Water Safety, Part 1: Prevention

March 30, 2017

Here at British Swim school we are already looking forward to the month of May, since it’s National Water Safety Month! Of course, we teach water safety skills and swimming proficiency year round, and if you’ve taken lessons with us, you know that British Swim School has a program for every age and skill level from 3 months to adult.  One of our most important messages for folks is swimming is neither a sport or an activity until you learn how to be safe in the water.

Unfortunately, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children aged 5 and under.  What can we do to protect our youngest swimmers? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, children over the age of one may be at a lower risk of drowning if they have had some formal swimming instruction. However, swim lessons should not be viewed as “drown proofing.” Drownings or near-drownings can happen to anyone. Adult supervision is the most critical factor to help prevent drowning.

Prevention is being aware of how simple, silent, and fast drowning happens and being vigilant to eliminate any situations where a child is at risk. Here are some prevention tips:

• Never leave water in the bath tub, buckets, wading pools, or inflatable pools.
• If a child goes missing in or around the house, even in cold weather, always check the pool first. (CDC)
• Avoid using inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties” as drown proofing tools; they are not a substitute for approved life vests and often give children and parents a false sense of security. (American Academy of Pediatrics)
• Provide water safety and swim lessons to your children as early as possible. Make sure they learn how to be safer in the water first, including being able to get themselves to the wall safely. The importance of getting your little ones in a program early cannot be overstated. There are so many benefits to start little babies in water survival and swim lessons.
• Learn and practice lifesaving skills. Know the basics of swimming (floating, moving through the water), CPR and First Aid.
• When children are swimming, there should always be a Water Watcher on duty, an adult whose only job is to watch the pool. No talking on the phone, playing cards, or reading a book.
• Make sure a phone is nearby, and that it’s charged and available in case of an emergency.
• Install a four-sided isolation fence with self-closing and self-latching gates around swimming pools.
• Install a pool alarm.
• Know the signs of drowning for yourself and others. This includes secondary drowning. If you are exhibiting any signs of drowning, STOP and FLOAT. (Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project)

In our next blog, we will continue this series on Water Safety with more information about Water Watchers, which is a water safety program designed to promote water safety, prevent drownings and protect children. You can learn all about the program and pick up a free Water Watcher card at the pool for the month of May! We will be giving them out to everyone who stops by all month long.