Happy New Year! This month, our mantra is “New Year, No Fear!”
Why, you ask? It’s important to shed light on the fear of water. We want everyone in the world to have a healthy respect and enjoy water-related activities in a safe, disciplined way.
Here are some interesting facts:
- Somewhere between 70 and 75 percent of the earth’s surface is covered with water.
- According to the CDC, about ten people die every day from unintentional drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger.
- Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.
About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. - For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
The main factors that affect drowning risk are lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers to prevent unsupervised water access, lack of close supervision while swimming, location, failure to wear life jackets, alcohol use, and seizure disorders. British Swim School was founded on the principle of safety. Swimming, water sports and lounging by the pool are all fun, but we care most about saving lives.
However, fear does not save lives – knowledge does! This year, take the time to understand why you or a loved one has a fear of water. Chances are that it’s the fear of the unknown. Educate yourself and others about how to save your own life in the water.
This is a fantastic time of year for adults to resolve to learn how to swim, too. Do YOU know how? If not, take the first step today. We teach infants as young as three months all the way to adults. From back float to advanced strokes, British Swim School has a class for everyone at all skill levels.
If you are afraid of water, do not instill or perpetuate that fear. Instead, take responsibility to help everyone you know act safely around pools, oceans, lakes, rivers, bathtubs and other bodies of water. Make sure your family knows how to swim.
We can change statistics! Make 2015 the year of NO FEAR!
Best Regards,
Rita Goldberg
CEO and Founder
British Swim School
Source:https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html