Protect your good times

Splashing, wading, and paddling — it must mean a great day in the water. Playing at the beach, at a water park, by a lake, or in a pool can be a real treat on a hot day. Swimming is a lot of fun, but drowning is a real danger. Let’s find out how to stay safe in the water.

Why Is It Important to Be Safe in the Water?

Fish are able to live and breathe under water, but people need air to breathe. People drown when too much water gets into their lungs. When that happens, the lungs can’t carry enough oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body.

Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. Drowning can happen so fast — sometimes in less than 2 minutes after a person’s head goes under the water. That leaves very little time for someone to help.

Many drownings and near-drownings occur when a kid accidentally falls into a swimming pool. But accidents can happen anywhere — at someone’s home or even at your own house, and that’s why you need to know how to be safe around water.

Swimming Pools

Pools are awesome! What could be better than a dip in the pool and fun in the sun? But remember a pool’s sides and bottom are usually made of concrete, a rock-hard material. A slip or fall could be painful and dangerous.

Have you seen those big numbers painted on the side of the pool? Those are called depth markers — they tell you how deep the water is at that point. You should always look before you jump into a pool. You should also only dive off the diving board. Never dive off the side of the pool unless an adult says that the water is deep enough. The water may be shallower than you think. If you hit the bottom . . . ouch! You might get knocked out or you could hurt your neck very badly.

Test the pool’s water temperature before you plunge in. Cold water can shock your body and make your blood pressure and heart rate go up. You might accidentally open your mouth to yell and accidentally breathe in some water. Cold water can also slow your muscles, making it hard to swim.

Here’s some other good advice for the pool:

       Always have an adult watch you when you are in the pool — even in your own backyard. Never go in the pool if there is no adult around.

       Gates are around pools for a reason — to keep kids away from the water when there isn’t a lifeguard or adult around to watch them. Never go through any pool gates when they are closed. Stay safe and stay out!

       Always obey pool rules.

       Swim with a buddy.

       If you’re learning to swim, ask your mom or dad to make sure your flotation devices are Coast Guard approved.

       Walk slowly in the pool area. Don’t run.

       Swim at a depth that is safe for you. If you’re just learning to swim, stay in the shallow end.

       Don’t push or jump on others. You could accidentally hurt someone or yourself.

       Toys to help you float come in many shapes and sizes (an inner tube, air mattress, or beach ball, for example). Although they are fun and can help you while you learn to swim, what they can’t do is save a life. They’re toys that can lose air or float away.

       Don’t chew gum or eat while you swim — you could choke.

       Lakes and Ponds

       Lots of kids swim in streams, lakes, or ponds. Extra care must be taken when swimming in these beautiful places. You can’t always see the bottom of the lake or pond, so you don’t always know the depth of the water. This is an additional reason to always swim with an adult.

       Although the fish swimming around won’t hurt you, some ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken bottles, or trash. Wear something to protect your feet. Also, watch out for weeds and grass, which can trap even a good swimmer. If you panic and try to yank yourself free, you may get even more tangled. Instead, shake and pull your arms and legs slowly to work yourself loose or call for an adult’s help.

       If you’re going out on a boat, always wear a life jacket. (Again, the life jacket should be Coast Guard approved.) Even if you are a good swimmer, something could cause the boat to tip over and you could be trapped underneath.

Beaches

It’s hard to resist a day on the beach, but you’ll need to know some safety rules when you’re swimming in the ocean. When you first get to the beach, check with the lifeguard to find out how strong the waves are. Some places fly flags or write notes on a chalkboard to give swimmers an idea of what conditions are like.

In some places swimmers may encounter strong undertows or ocean currents. Rip currents (also called riptides) are so strong that they can carry swimmers away from shore before they know what’s happening. If you are caught in a current, swim parallel to the shore (alongside the shore) rather than to the shore until the water stops pulling you, then swim back to shore. If you can’t get back to the beach, tread water and wave for a lifeguard’s help.

You probably won’t see any sharks (although a friendly dolphin may splash by) where you are swimming. But you might run into some jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars. These umbrella-shaped, nearly clear animals can grow to be as large as several feet in diameter! They are often found floating near the shore. Getting stung is no fun — it can hurt and blister your skin. If you get stung, tell an adult as soon as possible.

Here’s some other good advice for the beach:

       Never swim alone!

       Always swim where a lifeguard can see you and in areas that are marked for swimmers to use.

       Wear protective footwear if surfaces are rough or rocky.

       Don’t swim out too far.

       Never pretend to be drowning. The lifeguard may take you seriously.

       Don’t swim close to piers — those big, wooden structures that jut out into the water. If the water moves suddenly, you could hit a piling or a rock.

       Store drinks in plastic containers at the beach — broken glass bottles and bare feet don’t mix.

       Face the waves, instead of turning your back on them. Then you’ll know what’s coming.

Water Parks

Kids love water parks — and why shouldn’t they? Wave pools, giant slides, and squirting fountains are a lot of fun. To stay safe, find out what each attraction is like before jumping in. Some wave pools can get rough, so it’s a good idea to have an adult nearby.

Here are other water park safety tips:

       Wear a life jacket if you don’t know how to swim or if you’re not a strong swimmer.

       Read all of the signs before going on a ride. Make sure you are tall enough, old enough, and don’t have any of the medical conditions that are listed. If you have questions, check with a parent or ask the lifeguard.

       Always make sure there’s a lifeguard at each ride and listen to his or her instructions. Wait until the rider ahead of you has passed a safe point for you to go down the slide.

       Always go down the water slide face up and feet first. This is the safe and correct way to ride.

       When you go from ride to ride, don’t run — it’s slippery! Also, remember that each ride is different. Read each sign and note how deep the water is in the pool.

BackContinue But I Know How to Swim!

It’s important to know your limits when it comes to playing in the water. You could develop a cramp (where a muscle in your body suddenly tenses up and causes pain) or other physical problem that makes it hard to swim. If you get a cramp, get out of the water for a while and give your muscles a rest.

Waves can knock you down or push you to the ocean floor. Stay close to an adult or get out of the water when the waves get rough. People also get into trouble when they start to panic or become too tired to swim. It is important to know your limits.

Here are some other good water safety tips:

       Learn to swim. Ask your parents to contact your local American Red Cross or community center for information on boating or water safety courses.

       Always put on plenty of sunscreen before you go outside. It’s also a good idea to wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your skin from the sun’s harmful rays.

       Stop swimming or boating as soon as you see or hear a storm. Remember, lightning is electricity — electricity and water are a dangerous combination.

       Don’t swim in the dark.

       Wherever you’re swimming, do have a waterfall of fun!

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD

Swimming is a part of many people’s everyday life. This guide site is devoted to swimming in all of its forms, both competitive and recreational. Beginning swimmers need to know that ones resting heart rate decreases 10 beats per minute in water, and maximum heart rate decreases by 10 to 30 beats. The heart puts out just as much blood as in other exercises because it pumps more volume with each stroke, but more slowly. A great thing about swim meets is the camaraderie between the swimmers. Each swimmer is vying for first place, but the emphasis becomes more about beating yourself. Swimming is undoubtedly the most worthwhile excercise as no other sport or activity allows you to utilise as many muscles as you do in swimming.

By choosing enclosed swimming pools, you’re not only adding a pool to your life, but you’re also adding a place where you can relax and hide away from the world. Many Adults think that they are too old to swim competitively. From a fitness standpoint, swimming has physical and mental benefits. And whereas some people with physical limitations cannot perform land exercise, water exercise offers a perfect fitness fit. Many people understand swimming as a great pleasure and enjoy every time they go the beach or swimming pool. Mainly the upper body strength because you are constantly moving your arms and legs in order to get from one end of the pool to another. Its great in summer because when it gets really hot, just jump in the pool for a workout and cool down.

Swimming is a very honest sport. This sport uses almost all major muscle groups and places a vigorous demand on your heart and lungs, it’s better than any training machines that usually use only one group of muscle. Pool water becomes more balanced due to lowered chemical use. Seldom requires brushing. Less vacuuming due to constant coagulant effect. Less backwashing. The pool remains free from bacteria, viruses and algae. The use of chlorine is reduced, and so are its harmful by-products (chloramines, chlorinated hydrocarbons). The use of pool chemicals that are harmful to the environment are reduced (chlorine, acids, alkalis) or made redundant (algaecides, flocculant/ coagulant).

What are the advantages of the swimming?

Swimming does not put the strain on connective tissues that running, aerobics and some weight-training regimens do.

It is extremely good for your lungs.

Swimming is a healthy activity with both physical and mental benefits.

One of the first advantages of saltwater swimming pools is the level of comfort you experience. Salt is softer on your skin than chlorine.

Cancer and asthma-causing chlorine use may be reduced by up to 75%. Algaecides and flocculants may be eliminated completely. Less chemicals means healthier pool water.

Better muscular endurance and balance.

Swimming exercise is great for lowering blood pressure, easing depression and stress, and losing extra weight.

The breast stroke will help tone your abs and upper arms.

SG Poseidon Eppelheim announces a new learn to swim program for English speaking children in the Heidelberg (HD) and Mannheim (MA) communities through a partnership with the American Swim School. Swimming lessons will be held at the Gisela-Mierke-Bad Eppelheim near American military installations (PHV, MTV & BFV) and several English-speaking international companies.

Eppelheim, Germany, October 29, 2009 (PressReleasePoint) — A new and unique partnership has been created between the American Swim School and SG Poseidon Eppelheim. This partnership was formed to provide a learn-to-swim program for English speaking children that live in the Heidelberg and Mannheim area because their parents work for the military (US Army and NATO) or an international company like SAP. The swimming pool (Hallenbad Eppelheim) where the lessons will be held is just minutes from several American military bases like Patrick Henry Village (PHV), Mark Twain (MTV) and Benjamin Franklin Village (BFV).

About the American Swim School:
The American Swim School was founded by its director, Jason Jordan, back in 2005. Coach Jason started the school when he saw that there were so many English-speaking children that lived in the Heidelberg and Mannheim communities that did not have access to swim lessons in English.

Coach Jason is a competitive swim coach certified by the American Swim Coaches Association (ASCA) and former collegiate swimmer in the United States. With over fifteen years of competitive swimming and coaching experience , Coach Jason has the knowledge to teach children the most efficient and effective swimming mechanics.

“Swimming is something I have a passion for. You’ll be able to see this firsthand when your children learn how to swim through my program,” says Coach Jason of the American Swim School.

About SG Poseidon Eppelheim:
SG Poseidon Eppelheim is a German swim club that provides opportunities for people of all ages to train and compete in swimming and triathlons. They also provide swimming courses , taught in German, for babies, children and adults.

“Our club is excited to be working with Jason Jordan, a former American competitive swimmer and longtime coach, who has experience in coaching all age groups. We also wanted to give the children of English-speaking families in the community the opportunity to learn how to swim from a qualified English instructor,” says Rainer Henrichs of SG Poseidon Eppelheim.

To learn more about SG Poseidon Eppelheim and the many programs they offer, please visit their website:
http://www.sgposeidon.de

The Swim Lesson Program in English:
The swim lessons are offered in a 10-week session and taught in English. Each swimmer attends a 30-minute lesson, once a week, for the length of the session. There are three sessions that are offered during the school year (Fall, Winter, and Spring).

You can receive pricing, availability, and the dates of the next session by subscribing to the American Swim School’s email newsletter on their website:
http://www.AmericanSwimSchool.com

Directions and pictures of the swimming pool (Gisela Mierke Bad Eppelheim | Hallenbad Eppelheim) are available there as well.

Whether you are training for a triathlon or you are just wanting to stay in shape, swimming in open water breaks the monotony of the mind-numbing lengths of a swimming pool. Open water swimming is great fun, but don’t ignore your safety. Here are a few tips for swimming safely in open water.

Swimming in open water can make a pleasant change from the mind-numbing lengths of a swimming pool. Instead of the claustrophobic feeling of being enclosed in a swimming lane, you have a sense of freedom in the open water. Any large expanse of water will do, whether it is the ocean, a lake or a dam. Open water swimming is great fun if you’re training for a triathlon, iron-man competition or if you’re just wanting to stay in shape and improve your stamina. It is important not just to enjoy your swim, but also to swim safely! Here are a few tips for swimming in open water: (more great swimming and diving tips can be found at http://www.swimmingsafety-tips.com):

1) Don’t just take the plunge, especially if the water is cold. Your body has to adjust to the water temperature gradually. If the water is cold… below 65 degrees Fahrenheit, you should wear a wet suit. A swim cap and earplugs help to keep your head warm. Ear plugs also guard against earache and infections. Ease yourself into the cold water and start with a session of around 15 minutes the first time. You can then gradually increase your time in the water with each swim.

2) Upon leaving the cold water after your swim, take your wet suit off, wrap yourself in a towel, have a warm drink and dress warmly. Your body temperature drops quicker in water and you need to get warm again.

3) For safety purposes, never swim alone. Always take a “swimming buddy” or join a swim club and swim together in a group. In the open water, potentially dangerous situations can arise. There are unknown elements such as currents, boats, seaweed and fog which you may have to negotiate. If you have a buddy or group, there is someone to help you if you get into difficulty.

4) On hot sunny days, especially if you have fair skin, apply waterproof sunscreen at least 20 minutes before your swim. Your skin can burn quite badly in the water if you don’t take the necessary precautions.

5) If you wear spectacles, consider prescription swimming goggles or daily disposable contact lenses with non-prescription goggles over them . In the open water, it is important to see where you’re going and to look out for any boats.

6) Swimming goggles come in various tints. Use blue lenses for cloudy days and dark lenses for bright, sunny days.

7) Beware of fog. It’s easy to lose sight of the shore and get lost in dense fog.
If a lightning storm is brewing, don’t swim. This is one electrifying experience you want to avoid!

9) Chaffing can be a problem, especially in salt water. Rub petroleum jelly over areas of friction if you are prone to chaffing.

10) Be careful of becoming entangled in seaweed when swimming in the ocean. Try not to kick when in seaweed as it tends to wrap around your legs. Also try to stay high in the water.

By following these practical tips, you can ensure that your open water swim is both an enjoyable and safe experience. Swimming is a great way to keep in shape. Get into the water and have some fun! Just remember the old adage “if in doubt, get out.”

By Gregory de Villiers

Whether you swim to relax or keep fit it is recognized that swimming is an important skill to have. This article looks at how modern technology is making our swimming pools, sports and leisure centres safer places.

Picture the scene, you are with friends at the local swimming baths when one of your friends slips when attempting to dive into the pool and bangs their head. Help is likely to be available in the form of a lifeguard but the fact is despite swimming pools generally being safe, regulated environments, there are still about 15 deaths by drowning in swimming pools each year.

When you realise that in Great Britain each year there are about 350 million visits to public swimming pools as well as visits to pools at leisure clubs, gyms, hotel, holiday parks and at home it is safe to say most swimming pools are a safe environment. However, 15 deaths by drowning is 15 deaths too many so if anything can be done to reduce this figure whilst also providing improved health and safety practices to pools and leisure centres then surely they would take it. Well the good news for swimming pools, hotels and other leisure facility providers is that modern two way radio can now be used to improve their health and safety.

The Government has recognised that it is essential that children learn about the principles and skills of water safety and survival, which is why swimming is a compulsory component of the PE curriculum in primary schools. By the age of 11 all children must be able to safely swim a minimum of 25 metres.

So with more children swimming at an early age and with the London Olympic Games in 2012 no doubt likely to fuel further interest in sport, leisure and keep fit, there is every chance more and more leisure centres and swimming pools will be required. It is therefore vital that swimming pools have procedures and fail safe communication systems in place for members of staff to stay in touch and communicate an accidents or incidents that may happen.

One such system is the new waterproof two way radio systems. Being waterproof of course is ideal for use by lifeguards and swimming assistants. The good news for leisure centres is that they can take advantage of these waterproof 2 way radios pool side and also have other types of radio communication system like the Kenwood TK3201 will is an ideal safety and communication system for all types of business.

Traditionally, Two Way Radio has been used as a safety and communication tool in businesses including factories, schools and retail outlets where their staff need to stay in touch over a wide area whilst also having no call charges. And with the new waterproof 2 way radios, swimming pools and sports centres can make sure their staff stay in touch and can immediately report accidents and other incidents. Not only will this increase their safety and performance but it will also ensure that if an incident does happen in their pool they can report it immediately and steps can be taken to ensure serious incidents and possible fatalities can be prevented.

With so many people and children in particular using swimming pools, leisure and sports centre managers and owners now have the option to make their facilities as safe as possible with two way radios like the Kenwood TK3201 Radio which are available from companies like Apex Radio Systems Ltd. As business owners there is nothing as important as the safety of our staff and customers so modern technology is now available that can make your business safe and not sorry.

If the government wants to persuade us that it understands quality-of-life issues, then sport is a good place to start.

 This is the season of fresh resolutions, many of them adopted to deal with bulging waistlines and that non-specific blobby feeling you may recognize after the Christmas break. Like many women I will be soon ploughing up and down a swimming pool. Like many parents I will also be watching children swim – my daughters in fact. Swimming is the single most popular sport for girls and the second most popular for boys.

It is also a good test case for the government’s wider commitment to sport. Sport has always been a second-order political issue, perhaps even third-order. It is the national obsession, we are told, gripping for spectators and players, but hardly something to swing elections. New Labour famously made much of its laddish addiction to football. Its modernizing men have been gym-using, marathon-training urbanites. And yet all that was somehow outside “serious” politics – sport has been “Look, I’m human too” downtime. This may be about to change. Why? Because of another Labour success, the one that made the prime minister do a jig of genuine delight and surprise just before he heard of the London bombings – London’s Olympic bid success.

Throughout this parliament, there will be a steadily building hubbub of interest in major construction projects, national plans for this or that sport. Parents and coaches will be hissing to kids at gyms or running tracks that they could be good enough to make it in 2012. There’s enough of a focus to make the politics of sport almost sexy. And if Labour wants to persuade us in a fourth election that it understands the all-important quality of life issues, sport is a good place to start.

And, Olympics bid aside, the picture is mixed. Richard Caborn has done his best to reverse such national disgraces as the selling-off of school and community sports fields, yet the picture is still pretty terrible. In 1994, the last time a survey was done, England had nearly 78,000 such pitches. Since then we have lost 34,000. In a crowded, urban and increasingly obese country, that is shameful. The law has been changed to make the sale of school playing fields a bit harder, but the price and shortage of land remain powerful incentives for schools to sell them off.

An even sharper measurement, however, may be swimming. More than 12 million swim regularly. Unlike football, which is hugely commercialized, this sport depends on public subsidy. Swimming pools are expensive to build and maintain and, since the Victorians and Edwardians, have been prime examples of local authority beneficence.

Many, in the centers of the old industrial cities, are now crumbling and squalid. Many are faced with closure; campaigns to keep local pools open have been up and swimming hard from Shrewsbury to Ipswich, from Plymouth to Kentish Town. Crystal Palace, meant to be a national centre for English swimming, is a dingy and vile-smelling disgrace. England has just 16 50-metre pools open to the public and only two are in London, where, admittedly, there are plans for another six, including at the Olympic centre in Stratford.

There seems to be plenty of private money for expensive fitness clubs for the well-off and single but only public funding can provide the pools used by women and families. Yet swimming is not a statutory responsibility of cash-strapped local authorities and too often, as in Hackney, where new combined sports centers have been built to replace the old swimming pools, they have been construction disasters.

The former sports minister Kate Hoey said recently that “all the fine words about tackling obesity and the fitness of the nation proclaimed by politicians are worthless if not translated into resources to keep our swimming pools”. She’s absolutely right; those who don’t swim might like to imagine how they would feel if only local authorities operated football stadiums and, all round the country, they were being closed down.

It isn’t only swimming. Over the Christmas break, many tens of thousands of people must have experienced the increasingly rare pleasure of ice-skating. Temporary rinks have flowered all round London, as well as in and in other cities. There are just over 60 permanent facilities in Britain, but that is only one for every million potential users – and large areas have none at all. There is a single rink in the West Country and nothing in East Anglia.

So what am I saying? Not that the government does not care about sport, or has done nothing at all. There are endless bodies and meetings, position papers and Olympics-related appointments. Winning the 2012 games certainly matters. Britain will either be praised around the world as having triumphantly produced a successful games or else our notorious weakness in capital projects and our crumbling transport infrastructure will be embarrassingly revealed. The stakes are too high for any government to let London fail, so London will undoubtedly benefit.

The real questions are: who in London will benefit, and what about the rest of the country? Having the Olympics is probably a great thing, but not if it is at the expense of decent sporting facilities for millions of people round the country. The health of the many, as Labour would put it, should trump the effervescent celebration of the few.

Swimming is important of itself, but it is also a good political symbol. It is a hugely popular but inevitably public-sector activity, which almost everyone can enjoy. If the public good means anything these days, when libraries are being eroded by Google and Amazon, then public swimming pools should be a policy battleground which, if not up there with schools and hospitals, is bobbing below them.

The cliché of the hour is that Labour is scared of David Cameron and squabbling about its agenda. A crusade to make Britain proud of its public sports facilities should be part of the answer. In all the welter of resolutions, I can’t think of a better one for blobby ministers.

By Jackie Ashley

Leaving the pool and trying open water swimming.

Swimming has been a part of my life since the days of eating erasers and teasing girls in elementary school, with the exception of my time in college, during which I was too busy experimenting with the party scene to make my way to a pool for some exercise. Unlike most lifelong swimmers, I never really developed a specialty stroke or event, instead going with what feels best at the time. I’ve been a backstroker, breastroker and butterflier at various junctures, but I never managed to get a feel for freestyle… until recently.

The team with which I currently swim practices in an Olympic-sized pool, so I have gotten the opportunity to workout on a 50-meter course for the majority of the year. The extended laps, coupled with the fact that I have more muscle on my frame than any other point of my life, has helped shape my body for long-distance freestyle. Mind you, I don’t want to be a distance freestyler because it involves more time spent in practice honing endurance skills and swimming the grueling longer events at competitions. I can deny it all I want, but my performance in the open water events (swimming in lakes and oceans) has forced me into accepting this as a new reality.

I love competing in the open water; it’s just that the distance events in the pool are tediously boring, firing off lap after lap (I get enough of that in practice). There is nothing finer than swimming in a cool lake on a hot summer day, and the lack of visual repetition (not the same walls to turn on or the constant black line at the bottom) is a refreshing treat. So far this summer I have competed in ten individual open water swims and I placed within the Top 3 in my age group in all of them. I was also a part of a six-man relay, which swam a 12-mile race across the breathtaking Lake Tahoe on the California-Nevada border. I can’t argue with these successful results and I will forge ahead with more events outside of the pool in an effort to keep improving.

Those of you who like to swim, but are growing weary of the mundane aspect of lap swimming, I highly recommend looking into entering an open water event. Trying a new environment can reignite your swimming desires, and making the plunge with beautiful landscape all around you is a powerful feeling. But before you head out to the nearest swimming hole without lane lines, try out these practice tips in the pool:

• Out in the open water there are no convenient black lines on the bottom to direct you. Experiment with swimming with your eyes closed for short distances to get s sense of how straight you can or can’t swim without directional help. You might be surprised just how vital the black line is at keeping you on track.

• Sighting is the art of looking up to see where you are going. In open water swims, there are floating markers which map out the course and give you something to focus upon in your efforts to swim straight. In the pool, find a focal point in the distance and practice lifting your head and looking forward every few strokes. You will eventually get into a comfortable rhythm of doing this, and it will prevent you from straying too far off course and landing in trouble (like I did when I found myself in a coral reef during an open water swim in Hawaii).

• Try swimming without touching the walls or the bottom. Instead of doing a flip-turn or touching the wall and pushing off, make a U-turn before the wall and continue swimming. This is a good drill to see how far you can go without interrupting your stroke or taking a quick breather. There are no walls or lane lines to grab onto out in the open water, so it would be wise to get a good feel of continuous swimming.

The open water may sound a bit daunting at first, but with a little practice and a healthy dose of confidence you just might be pleasantly surprise how thrilling it can be. Start off with a short-distance race and gradually build up to the longer stuff once you feel ready to tackle a bigger challenge. And, most of all, remember to have fun!

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Today’s Healthy Outlook with Jennifer Foss, R.N. — Swimming and splashing in a pool, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, can burn up a lot of energy, but pool time fun can also result in accidents.

Swimming and splashing in a pool, whether it’s indoors or outdoors, can burn up a lot of energy, but pool time fun can also result in accidents. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), each year nearly 350 children under the age of 5 drown in swimming pools. Another 2,600 are treated in emergency rooms for near-drowning incidents. So how do you protect your children around water? Consider these suggestions to help ensure safe summertime fun.

Put Supervision First

Your little “fish” should never be left unattended around water. Whether you’re at the lake, in your backyard pool, or at the neighborhood pool, young children need constant supervision. Don’t rely on the watchful eye of the lifeguard, either. In a crowded pool of splashing, boisterous children, it’s difficult for a lifeguard to monitor each child. Children can drown in a matter of minutes. Also, enforce rules about horseplay and never use floatation devices as a substitute for supervision.

Consider Safety Devices

Almost 80 percent of drowning and near-drowning incidents occur at home, according to the CPSC. If you own a pool, there are safety devices you can use to help protect your family. A fence should be your first line of defense. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, most children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. When choosing a fence, make sure it’s at least five feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate.

A motorized pool cover may also be used, but should not replace a fence. The cover should withstand the weight of two adults and a child in case someone falls onto the cover and need to be rescued. Because a child can drown in only a few inches of water, make sure that the cover is tight enough to prevent standing water. Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, because a child could become trapped underneath.

Pool owners may also consider alarms to alert them when a child has entered the pool area or fallen in the water. Door alarms can warn when a door leading to the pool is unexpectedly opened. Water disturbance alarms can detect when a child has fallen into the pool. Parents may also choose to invest in wristband alarms that signal a remote receiver if a child falls in the pool and gets the wristband wet. Remember — alarms are no substitute for proper supervision.

Rely on Your Sense

High-tech gizmos may help safeguard your children around water, but don’t forget about old-fashioned common sense. Consider these tips before your kids head for the water.

- Keep lifesaving equipment such as a shepherd’s pole, life preserver and rope in the pool area.

- Keep a phone by the pool in case of emergency, and so you don’t need to leave the pool area. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the telephone.

- Enroll your child in swimming lessons.

- Make sure that you and anyone who watches your children knows CPR.

Courtesy of ARA Content, www.ARAcontent.com, e-mail: info@ARAcontent.com

Julia Youll answers:

It’s up to you to decide when you want to take your baby swimming. You don’t need to wait until she’s immunised, as the chlorine in the water will kill off any bacteria or viruses. It’s probably sensible to wait until she’s at least a few weeks old, because a tiny baby may feel a little cold and perhaps overwhelmed in a large public pool. Or you may want to wait until after your postnatal check at six to eight weeks. Also bear in mind that lots of baby swimming classes don’t accept babies until they are twelve weeks old.

If you’re planning to go regularly, it’s worth investing in a couple of baby swim nappies to prevent accidents in the pool. Initially your baby will just enjoy the sensation of the water and the interaction with you, but you can start teaching her basic swimming skills from about six months of age. Ask if classes are available at your local swimming pool.

You can boost your baby’s confidence in the water by keeping your face at eye level, maintaining eye contact and by smiling and talking reassuringly. Taking a familiar bath toy is a good idea as well.

Keep swimming times short at first and take your baby out if she starts to shiver, wrapping her up warmly. Avoid going swimming if your baby is unwell, too.

 Updated by Sally Sago

Getting your baby used to water early is important from a safety point of view and it’s great fun too. “Your child won’t be co-ordinated enough to learn to swim properly until he is two or three, but you can get him to feel confident and relaxed in the water and make swimming a fun way to exercise for both of you,” says midwife and health visitor Julia Youll.

When can I start swimming with my baby?

Parents used to be advised to wait until their baby had had their immunisations at two, three and four months before they took their babies swimming. But government health experts no longer believe this is necessary, so it’s really up to you when you start taking your baby to the pool. “There are no medical grounds for waiting until your baby is immunised. However, most pools start classes at around 12 weeks,” says Libby Tucker, a swimming teacher who specialises in parent and child courses. Remember too, that a noisy public swimming pool could be daunting for your newborn, so it may be worth waiting until he’s a bit older. You will probably have to wait until you’ve had your six-week check before you can go yourself, anyway.

What does he need to wear?

Swim nappies are a good investment but aren’t compulsory in most swimming pools. Most pools do insist that babies wear a swimming costume of some kind though. “Don’t worry if your baby has an accident, as staff will know exactly what to do,” says Libby Tucker. Water wings aren’t suitable for babies under one but there are other swimming aids available for this age group.

What you’ll need to take

Before your first trip to the swimming pool, phone ahead to find out if there’s a playpen, pushchair access and changing tables in the changing room. You’ll also need to take:

• A warm bottle for after the swim if you are bottlefeeding

• A towel, preferably one with a hood or a towelling dressing gown

• A snack — swimming makes babies hungry

• Books or toys for older babies

• A few of your baby’s bath toys to play with

• Don’t forget your nappy bag.

Introducing your baby to water

Here’s how you can help your baby learn to enjoy splashing about in water:

• Make bath time fun. Gently splash water over his body or lay him on his back and move him gently through the water.

• When you first start going to a public pool, make sure you go off-peak. Ask a friend to come with you or join a mum and baby session. If you feel relaxed and confident, your baby will, too.

• When you first get in the pool, make sure that your baby’s face is close to yours and that you have eye contact, holding him close to you. As you both relax and feel more confident you can extend your arms and swish your baby around.

Making water fun

Here are some ways to help your baby enjoy the water and learn the basics of swimming:

• Let your baby splash and play with his bath toys — throw one a few feet across the pool and ‘zoom’ him through the water to retrieve it.

• Put your mouth under water and show your baby how to blow bubbles. This is an important lesson for babies to learn, as they can’t inhale water if they are blowing. For young babies, blow a toy across the water and get him to blow it back, or at least mimic you blowing.

• When he can sit up, usually at around six months, sit your baby on the side of the pool and sing Humpty Dumpty. When you get to the line “Humpty Dumpty had a great fall”, lift him down into the water with a splash.

• Lay him on his back with his head resting on your shoulder. Encourage him to kick his legs.

• According to Libby Tucker, it’s safe to dip your baby under the water for a second or two — some research shows that young babies don’t inhale when under water — but you may feel more confident doing this under the guidance of a trained baby swimming teacher.

What precautions do I need to take?

To keep your baby safe while swimming:

• Check that the temperature of the pool is between 84 degrees F and 86 degrees F — if necessary, the swimming pool attendants can check it for you.

• As soon as your baby starts to shiver, get him out of the pool and wrap him up warmly.

• Start off with sessions of 10 minutes and build up to 20 minutes. If your baby is under one, avoid staying in for longer than 30 minutes.

• If your baby has a cold or seems unwell, avoid going swimming.

• If your baby has a skin complaint, check with your GP to make sure that the chlorine won’t irritate his skin.

Starting lessons

Ask whether your local pool does swimming classes for mothers and babies or has special mother and baby sessions. The following organisations run swimming courses for parents and babies:

• The Institute of Swimming Teachers and Coaches (ISTC), tel: 01509 618 700. For a list of mother and baby swimming teachers in your area write, enclosing a cheque for GBP2.50, to: ISTC, Harold Fern House, Derby Square, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 5AL.

• Little Dippers UK, tel: 0870 758 0302. Specialises in teaching babies to swim under water. Courses are run in Sussex, London, Kent, Oxford, Wimbledon, Redhill, Brighton, Plymouth and Chester.