Summer is swiftly approaching, and swimming is on everyone’s mind. How can we keep our children and our loved ones safe in and around the pool? According to the Center for Disease Control, every year there are more than 4,000 fatal unintentional drownings, including boat related drownings. More children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death and it’s the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children 5-14. These are unfortunate yet very real statistics to be aware of. From water parks to beaches, Houston has it all when it comes to water activities. That puts us all at a high risk. Here are a few things to keep in mind to keep everyone safe and responsible when we are around water.
Formal swim lessons reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. Knowing basic swimming and water safety is so important. Lessons alone do not make your child safe. Houston Swim Club always teaches safety first. Good swimming lessons matter.
Swim lessons only make you and your child safeR. Undistracted supervision of the pool is the most failsafe way to prevent drowning. There should never be a question of, "Who’s watching the pool?" Establish from the start who the Water Watcher is. The Water Watcher must be free of distractions. Alternate this position so everyone is included in the amazing job of water safety. If adult drinks are flowing, it is best to not be around the pool. Drowning is often silent and only takes a few seconds. Drowning can happen as quickly as answering a phone or aiming to throw a ping pong ball.
Your children must know that they can never swim alone. Establish who they can and cannot swim with. Take it a step further, your child must ask to go into the water every time. Not just at the beginning. Having your child build the muscle memory of asking permission to jump in every time is not just good for them but keeps the water watcher alert and engaged with the water area. Try "Permission and a Plan." Every time your child should ask to go into the water and verbalize what they are wanting to do in the water.
Blue is often the color of choice when it comes to swimsuits, but is it the best option? When your child is swimming beneath the surface and others are splashing about, it becomes very hard to see shades of blue and even whites. Bright shades of Orange, red, and pink are a bit more visible and will make them easier to spot.
Make sure you and your children have a properly fitting life jacket. On a boat, a pier, water park? Life jackets are never out of fashion. Make sure your life jacket is coast guard approved. Set rules for wearing jackets. Children must wear them the whole time of the swimming event. If your child decides to take it off, they should be deciding to no longer swim. We don’t want a child to forget to put it on.
We are passionate about water safety at Houston Swim Club. We do what we do so children do not become another statistic, but we cannot do this alone. It is everyone’s job to keep our children and ourselves safe in and around water. I hope you will bear these easy tips in mind this summer. Creating memories for your family is our family business, and that starts with water safety!
Written by Matt Hicks, Pool Manager, Houston Swim Club Cypress
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