May is National Water Safety Awareness Month, so we chatted with the water safety experts at Goldfish Swim School Hoover to share practical tips to keep your family safe this summer. Read on for great advice and a very special giveaway!
Did you know……
- Drowning is the number one cause of injury-related death for children ages one to four.
- Drowning kills nearly 1,000 children every year.
- Formal swimming lessons reduce the likelihood of childhood drowning by 88 percent.
- According to Total Aquatics Programming data, the summer months (May-August) account for two-thirds of annual childhood drowning incidents.
While these statistics can be frightening, the good news is that there are plenty of things that parents can do to keep their kids safe in and around water! With summer almost here, this is the perfect time for all families and caregivers to review swim and water safety basics. The team at Goldfish Swim School in Hoover shared these essential water safety tips that every family needs to know:
Enroll in Swim Lessons & Practice Basic Moves Before Returning to the Pool
One of the best ways to protect your children against drowning is to improve comfort level in the water and strengthen swimming capabilities through swim lessons, which have been proven to reduce the risk of childhood drowning by 88%. Lessons help increase muscle memory by practicing basic techniques for kids to use during a water emergency – such as the crab walk, properly getting in and out of the pool, going under water, rolling on their back, treading water, learning different strokes, etc.
Swap Out Floaties & Puddle Jumpers for U.S. Coastguard-Approved Lifejackets
Don’t rely on floaties and puddle jumpers to keep your kids afloat. They give children a false sense of security in the water, they can easily come loose or deflate, and they teach children to float in a vertical position which is the opposite of how our bodies actually float. Search for the Coast Guard approval on floatation devices, because it means the lifejacket has met all the regulations that the Coast Guard has set in place as it relates to performance, construction and materials. Pay attention to proper fit too. The fit matters, because if your head or ears can slip down beneath the life jacket, the device won’t be able to work as designed to keep your head above water and allow for proper breathing.
Seek Out Bright Colored Swimwear & Properly Fitted Goggles
When shopping for swimwear, avoid colors that could blend in with the water and choose swimsuits with bright colors instead. They will stand out in the water and make it easier to spot a swimmer in need of help. When shopping for goggles, there’s a couple factors to look for: making sure they fit around the eye comfortably (the top of the goggle cup should fit under the eyebrow and comfortably seal on the bottom under the eye socket), that the nose piece is not too tight or too wide, and the straps easily adjust.
Play it Cool and Follow the Rules
Sometimes when our little ones are in play-mode, rules fall by the wayside. Review rules together as a family before letting your kids loose to enjoy the water. Pay special attention to pool hours, and always schedule your swims when lifeguards are present, if possible.
Designate a Water Guardian
Make sure to keep your eyes on your kids at all times – even if lifeguards are present. Kids are as curious as they come and are always willing to push the limits without knowing the true hazards. Designate an adult “Water Guardian” and be sure to change guardians every 30 minutes so he/she is alert and refreshed. A Water Guardian’s sole responsibility needs to be keeping an eye on the swimmers. Vigilance is key – no chatting, no checking your phone, no distractions.
*** GIVEAWAY*** Enter to Win A Month of Swim Lessons
In honor of National Water Safety Awareness Month, Goldfish Swim School Hoover is giving away A MONTH OF FREE SWIM LESSONS TO ONE LUCKY WINNER! Goldfish offers indoor, year-round swim instruction to children ages 4 months to 12 years-old in a safe, fun and family-friendly setting with highly trained instructors and small class sizes (max 4:1 student to teacher ratio), and shiver-free 90-degree pools. Goldfish offers convenient scheduling options and families can easily book makeup classes when necessary. Families can register for swim lessons by visiting goldfishswimschool.com.
To enter to win a free month of swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School Hoover, please complete this form.
Giveaway ends May 31, 2022 at midnight. Winner will be selected at random. Lesson dates and times subject to availability. Can’t wait to see you in the pool!
