Summer is almost here! And what is more fun than going to the pool, lake or water park?!?! But keeping your eye on kids around water is serious business. I am sorry to have to say this- it is sobering, but drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death among kids ages 1 to 4. Here are some things that I have heard: “My child is too young for swim lessons.” Your child may be too young for formal lessons at your pool; however, I believe that introducing a young child to the water and acclimating the child to the feel of the water is invaluable in teaching a child how to swim. A four or six month old child can benefit from…
Posts tagged “swim safety”
In a previous article I wrote Did You Miss the Boat? I discussed that while it is never too late to learn how to swim, it is best if children learn how to swim early in their young lives. Now, what if you have not learned how to swim? Now your children or you want to learn to paddleboard, fly-fish, kayak, water ski, or jet ski. All of these sports involve you being in the water. Do I have to explain the dangers? Hmm. Yes, you will have to wear a life jacket when boating. How many people do you see wearing a life jacket when fly fishing or paddleboarding? Not many. Not to be a know-it-all but my husband has been fly-fishing since…
Tagged: learn to swim, life jackets, summer fun, swim safety, water safety
Please read this article re Secondary Drowning. No need to panic-but knowledge is power. Be aware.
Tagged: secondary drowning, swim safety, water safety
Yes, April might be winding down, but it’s never too late to learn to swim! The Swimming Saves Lives Foundation has launched a nationwide campaign to reduce the number of adult drownings, declaring the month of April, “Adult Learn-to-Swim Month.” The governors of Nebraska, Indiana and Washington have issued declarations in support, and other states are processing proclamation applications. “If we can convince water-shy adults to learn to swim in April, we hope to save lives when people gather at pools and beaches for summer recreation,” says Rob Butcher, executive director of U.S. Masters Swimming (USMS). Alarmingly, 37% of American adults cannot swim the length of a 25-yard pool, according to the Centers for Disease Control, putting them at risk for becoming one of…
Before I teach children or adults how to float on their backs, my students must be comfortable, calm and relaxed in the water. They do not necessarily have to know how to “swim” as long as they know the basics of how to breathe while swimming. Learning the back float can be scary, as my students cannot see me and watch what I am doing (like they can when they swim on their tummies). Students often resist learning the back float. My students must have complete trust in me. This takes time, lots of love and patience. This skill cannot be rushed nor can it be taught in deep water (even for adults-this is another article!). I begin the first step in the shallow…
Tagged: back float, fear of water, learn to swim, swim safety
Yes, it is that time of the year. Summer has definitely arrived and we have a (hopefully) long holiday weekend before us. Before you step foot on a boat this summer, please review my article on Life Jackets!
Don’t you want your child to feel comfortable in and around the water? Of course you do! I wish I had a nickel for every time parents tell me that they want to make sure that their child can swim to the wall if he falls into the pool. Even very young children must learn there is no running around the pool or diving into the shallow water. We must teach water safety to our children. I wish that I didn’t have to write this, but drowning is the #2 killer of children under the age of 18 years. There is no better physical activity than swimming for your children and yourself. It’s great family fun. As your child’s body grows and changes, swimming…
Tagged: learn to swim, summer fun, swim safety, water safety
