We’re all guilty of it. We’re at the pool or beach and finally relaxing. Our kids are playing – everyone’s happy and then there we are – back on our phones. Aimlessly scrolling through FB from the pristine white beaches instead of watching our children play in the water. Or even being present.
It’s not to make you feel bad, it’s just a sad truth that even myself fall into. We try to step away – but we are never really away. Which is why it’s a good time to remind ourselves that summer is here and water safety is a HUGE concern.
SCARY FACTS:
Drowning is one of the top 5 causes of death for people aged 1-14 years for 48 of 85 countries. The statistics in the United States are just as alarming. From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents. About one in five people who die from drowning in the U.S. are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
Sources:
https://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Water-Safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs347/en/
Now that I have your attention and you’re ready to put the phone down at the pool, let’s go over the W.A.T.E.R. safety rules again for summer:
WEAR your life jacket.
It’s hard enough to keep an eye on our little ones every second when we’re on dry land – but while in and near the water, it’s vital to always be nearby and watching them. Wearing a life jacket while at the lake, ocean, river or deep pool helps keep kids safer, and brings parents a little more peace of mind so you have a GOLDEN experience out there. (Here are some guidelines to help you determine if and when your child needs a life jacket.)
ACT: Throw, don’t go.
Make sure to always have a flotation device around the water, and know exactly where it is. If someone appears to be in an emergency situation while swimming, quickly throw it out to him or her before going for help. It can sometimes be confusing to recognize the signs of drowning, and it’s important to remember to keep yourself safe by having your own life jacket so you don’t also get pulled under while trying to help.
TAKE swimming lessons.
The more we practice anything, the more naturally it comes to us: That’s why Goldfish Swim School starts babies swimming as young as 4 months old. Perpetual swim lessons allow your child to learn how to feel confident in the water and provide some extraordinary results.
And, parents: If you don’t know how to swim, you can still help your child! There’s no need to avoid the water altogether; empower your child giving him or her the opportunity to learn lifelong, lifesaving swimming skills.
EDUCATE. Learn swim safety skills.
Goldfish Swim School teaches water safety skills during each and every lesson all year long so your child learns ways to be safer in and out of the water – and it becomes second nature. Our instructors use integrity, compassion and trust to teach children things like breath control, treading water and back floats…which are the building blocks of swimming, but also swim safety skills.Even beyond that, parents can also make sure to know how to stay safer at an indoor pool with things like keeping pool toys away from the water while not in use.
RESPECT. Play it cool and follow the rules.
Those signs posted at pools and the beach are there for a reason! You may want to throw the rules out the window when you’re on vacation, but it’s important to follow them – especially when you’re on vacation. Water conditions may change depending on the hour of day or season, there may not be lifeguards on duty during certain times, or another reason may present possible dangers. Always respect the rules.
Stay safer in the water at Goldfish Swim School
Post a selfie during the month of May and you could win a FREE year of swim lessons at Goldfish Swim School! Use the hashtag #WATERsafetyGSS to help promote water safety and we all help each other prevent accidental drownings this summer.
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Goldfish Swim School. All opinions are our own. Thank you for supporting FootballFoodandMotherhood.com.
