Swim Safely this Summer!

Swim coach Rachel Logan shared some fantastic tips for swim safety with us.  I hope you have fun splashing around but keep all of these things in mind!

Safety is important!

67% of all drownings occur in backyard spas, pools and bathtubs. If you are having a swimming party at your house hire a life guard to ensure the saftey of all children present remember it only takes 30 seconds for a child to drowned. 

 Drowning is the 2nd leading cause of injury death in the USA with people under the age of 15.

 In 18 of the 50 states, drowning was the number one cause of unintentional injury death of children 1 to 4 years of age.

 The majority of drowning incidents have occurred while the child's supervisor assumed the child was safely indoors.

 A child can drown in less time than it takes to answer the telephone. So put your phone down when you are watching your children around the pool!!!  

Know What to Do in an Emergency from the American Red Cross

• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing drowning
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• If you own a home pool or hot tub, have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit

Have fun in the pool saftely by reviewing expecations with children before they go around a pool.  Teach them how to jump in saftley away from walls and not on or near rocky edges, not to pull or tug on friends in the water, go over how the pool changes depth before entering if it is age appoprtiate, remind children they should only swim with adults. Example: You only swim when Mommy or Daddy are with you.  

It only takes about thirty seconds for a child to drown and it often happens noiselessly. An infant can drown in water as shallow as a few inches. The steps to prevent drowning, meanwhile, are pretty straightfoward: a watchful adult, a fence around the pool, a locked back door so a toddler doesn't slip outside unnoticed."

To have Rachel teach lessons to your little ones, email her at rach31780@aol.com.