Skokie, IL
There’s nothing more important at British Swim School Downtown Chicago than water safety for kids. Our swimming classes can build water safety skills in young swimmers. But Chicago’s parents need training in water safety for kids too! These 7 crucial tips can help you get started…
1. Know Chicago’s Water Safety Hazards
Water safety for kids in Chicago involves knowing the water hazards around you: residential pools, drainage ditches, local waterways, and the beach. At home, a pool or hot tub is a major concern. So are kiddie pools and bathtubs, which can be drowning risks for infants and toddlers if left unattended.
2. Teach Children to Avoid Water Hazards
Chicago parents can encourage water safety in kids by teaching their children to avoid water hazards. Children should be taught to never approach water without an adult’s supervision and permission.
3. Supervise Kids to Ensure Water Safety
When kids are in or around water, an adult should always be supervising. Always means always — never walk away or lose eye contact. Young children should also be kept in arm’s reach while in water and require constant supervision. That includes shallow water, like when taking a bath.
4. Set Water-Safe Rules When Swimming
When swimming, make water safety for kids your first priority. Rules should include no roughhousing, no running, and no breath-holding contests. Set limitations based on swimming ability, and equip all young and inexperienced swimmers with a US Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
5. Equip Home Pools for Water Safety
There are thousands of residential pools and hot tubs in Chicago. All should be equipped for water safety. If you have a home pool, it should have a childproof barrier around it, rescue equipment in the pool area, and a poolside first aid kit.
6. Prepare Yourself for Water Emergencies
Part of water safety for kids is being prepared for emergencies. Learn CPR and teach yourself the signs of drowning. If an emergency occurs, every second will count: call 911 immediately and attempt rescue yourself, so long as it’s safe to do so.
7. Water Safety for Kids Classes in Chicago
Kids swimming lessons are crucial for water safety. Studies have found they can reduce young children’s risk of drowning by more than 80%. British Swim School Downtown Chicago offers water safety for kids classes to children as young as 3 months old, teaching crucial water safety skills to little swimmers from the Chicago area.
British Swim School Downtown Chicago teaches water safety for kids at 8 local pools. Classes are open to swimmers from the West Loop, East Loop, Skokie, Gold Coast, Hyde Park, Lakeshore East, Evanston, East Lakeview, Lincolnwood, and North Shore Chicago. Call 708-613-5179 or find a class online to enroll.
British Swim School Chicago offers premium water survival and swimming lessons for infants, toddlers, children and adults, starting at just 3 months old. We proudly serve the Chicago and North Shore communities of Hyde Park, Bronzeville, Bridgeport, Chinatown, the Loop, East Loop, West Loop, River North, Streeterville, Gold Coast, Uptown, Lincoln Park, Bucktown, Ravenswood, East Lakeview, Lakeshore East, Lincolnwood, Skokie, Niles, Evanston, Wilmette, Glenview and Morton Grove . Call (708) 613-5179 to enroll or you can also register for swimming lessons at www.BSSChicago.com.
