Kid Korner
Autumn
In the middle of a swim lesson the other day, one of my students asked me, "Would you like to ask me about my
day?"
Okay, first of all, she's 2. What?! I know, right.
Secondly, that's a 9-word sentence. She has no business constructing a 9-word sentence.
And finally what impressed me more than the sheer length of the sentence was just how sophisticated it was. I mean isn't that the kind of question you ask your
spouse?
Mark
"THAT WAS BEAUTIFUL!" exclaimed 4-year-old Mark after I demonstrated bobbing for him.
Apparently, I executed the bobbing sequence with such exquisite precision that he found it impossible to contain his enthusiasm.
I didn't
realize I was so talented in that department. Thanks for thumbs up, Mark!
In the News
The first drowning occurred in a hot tub in Rancho Mirage. There are no details except that the victim was elderly.
A Scripps Howard study reveals that one American drowns nearly every day in a bathtub, hot tub or spa? It's usually alcohol or drug related and happens disproportionately more in western
states.
Also more than half of all tub deaths are among non-disabled people between the ages of 5 and 64.
And the CDC (Centers for Disease
Control) declares that for persons with seizure disorders, drowning is the most common cause of unintentional injury death, with the bathtub as the site of highest drowning risk.
The second near-drowning incident took place at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center. The victim suffered a medical emergency while swimming. The lifeguards pulled him out of the pool and were administering CPR when first responders arrived.
He was transported to the
hospital and is in critical condition as of March 18th.
According to the CDC, drowning can happen even in the presence of lifeguards.
CDC Tips to help you stay safe in the water. For complete details click here:
- Supervise When in or Around Water. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water even if lifeguards are present.
- Always swim with a
buddy. Select swimming sites that have lifeguards when possible.
- Seizure Disorder Safety. If you or a family member has a seizure disorder, provide one-on-one supervision around water, Consider taking showers. Wear life jackets when boating.
- Learn to Swim. However, even when children have had formal swimming lessons, constant, careful supervision when
children are in the water, and barriers, such as pool fencing to prevent unsupervised access, are still important.
- Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life.
- Air-Filled or Foam Toys are not safety devices. These toys are not life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers
safe.
- Avoid Alcohol. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Do not drink alcohol while supervising children.
- Don’t let swimmers hyperventilate before swimming underwater or try to hold their breath for long periods of time. This can cause them to pass out (sometimes called "hypoxic blackout” or “shallow water blackout”) and
drown.
The most significant takeaways from today's newsletter:
- First of all never swim alone.
- Secondly, avoid alcohol when supervising children.
- Also, avoid alcohol while relaxing in any tub or spa.
- Always swim
in a lifeguarded area.
- And last but not least, choose the shower vs. bath if afflicted with a seizure disorder.
If you have any thoughts on the subject or experiences that you would like to share, I would love to hear from you.
Love the water but fence it in,
Tessa
P.S. Get the FREE water safety app to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. It includes kid-friendly videos and quizzes. Search the iTunes app store for Swim by American Red Cross or click here. For Google Play you can use the same search
parameters or click here. It provides the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water.
P.P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here. 
