Before we know it, it’ll be swimming season again! Now is the time to schedule swim lessons and be prepared. We’re so thankful to Safety Before Skill Swim School for writing today’s blog for us and sharing the important tips every parent needs to read before packing up for the pool this summer. Check out their website for lots of great tips and videos.
As parents, we are on the receiving end of all kinds of advice along our parenting journey, both welcome and unwelcome from family, friends, and physicians. We are advised on car seats, feeding, sleeping, and even screen time. Yet we lose more children under the age of 4 years old to drowning than we do to motor vehicle accidents, SIDS, choking, or poisoning. So why don’t we talk about it?
Per the CDC, Drowning is the #1 cause of accidental death for children ages 4 and under; It is the #2 cause of accidental death for children over the age of 4. Males are 4 times more likely to drown and those on the Autism Spectrum are 160 times more at risk. For every fatal drowning, there are 5 more drownings that our children survive and almost 50% of them have life-altering consequences such as brain damage or spinal cord injury.
Below are 5 mistakes parents unknowingly make every summer that increase a child’s risk of an incident in the water.
1. Visors.
Stop buying those silly bath visors! Swimming lessons start in the bathtub. Our children’s first experiences with water are in the tub, shaping their attitudes, beliefs, and skills. Avoid protecting their face from splashing or pouring. Teaching our children that it is okay to have water in their faces is giving them an early introduction to breath control and submersion, and this will make your life so much easier at the pool. Consider using a Water Training Cup and pouring water over their faces with every bath. So, ask your coaches at Safety Before Skill Swim School for a free Water Training Cup and pour water over their face with every bath. (You can also purchase one and other fun water baby items here.) Let them splash! A LOT! 🙂
2. Floaties.
There are lots of flotation devices to choose from, and as parents, we think we are doing a good service to our children when we place them in a device.
HOT TAKE: The truth is, your child is less likely to drown and will develop water skills faster, the more time they spend with you in the water, without a device. That said, not all flotation devices are made equal and state law dictates that children wear lifejackets in open water. Avoid anything that covers the arms as this shifts their center of buoyancy too high and conditions them to move vertically in the water, otherwise known as the drowning position. Arm floats also cause a bicycle kick, which makes forward movement harder and takes a long time to correct. Even if the device says it is Coast Guard approved if it comes with arm floats attached, avoid it. Avoid anything that inflates. Instead, use a regular Type II or Type III Coast Guard-approved lifejacket. A standard life jacket encourages proper body position and keeps them safe without
causing regression in swim skills.
3. Ear Plugs.
Ever had a Swimmer’s Ear Infection? They are so painful, more so than the middle ear infections we are accustomed to. Swimmer’s Ear happens when the thin lining of the external ear becomes so saturated that it splits and cracks, allowing bacteria in, usually because of a long day in the water. Ear Plugs allow enough water to leak inside and then trap it there, actually increasing the chance of infection. The best way to avoid swimmers’ ear infections is to wash the ear out with Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol after every swim. Visit here for more details on how to do that correctly.
4. Scrolling in the Sun.
We all know we need to supervise our children in and around the water. How we define “supervision” is what complicates this premise and has led to 80% of pediatric drownings taking place when adults are present. You read that right, 8 out of 10 times, they drown when we are present. Drowning is SWIFT and SILENT. Despite what Hollywood portrays in movies, there is no waving of the hands, no call for help. We must be within Arm’s Reach and use Touch Supervision instead of watching from afar in the patio chair and put our phones down. This is a great opportunity to bond with our kids and build trust! Enjoy it! If you are in a group setting, at a backyard party, or gathering, designate one adult to monitor the water. Adults can all take turns and enjoy the party. Making sure that someone is always watching the water ensures that someone will know when our little ninjas get away from us and enter the water unexpectedly. If you would rather not be a water watcher, consider hiring a Lifeguard!
5. Swimming Lessons.
How many children do you have? If you have more than 1 or 2, chances are the youngest has not started swimming lessons yet. Or perhaps your first is waiting until age 3 or 4 to begin? Does taking the kids to the pool stress you out? Do you rely on flotation devices to get through a day at the pool? Swimming lessons reduce the chances of drowning by over 88%. Lessons are the single most effective way to protect our kids in and around water. Lessons should begin before they start walking, as their chances of drowning are highest before age 4. Choose a program that provides dignity and respect to your child, does not use trauma as a teacher, incorporates play
(that is how kids learn best!) and teaches them to survive first, before learning strokes. Safety Before Skill does all those things, starting at age 4 months. We make lessons fun and safe. Ask your pediatrician about a Water Smart Babies Prescription for swimming lessons!
BONUS!
Can you name the 3 Common Mistakes in this Photo When Sending Your Swimmer into the Pool?
1) No Arm Floats: They are not PFD certified.
2) No Blue Swimsuits: Wear bright colors so that children are easily seen underwater.
3) Long Loose Hair: Pull hair back to prevent getting caught in a pool filter and being held underwater.
We love working with our community to make time at your local pool the most enjoyable time ever! Swim on!
Author:
Coach Karen Lamoreaux
Safety Before Skill Swim School
www.safetybeforeskill.com