Just last week, Ruth, a grandmother of one of my students shared an experience with me which took place when she was 15-years-old.
Fifteen-year-old Ruth's neighbor, a 2-year-old girl, drowned in her backyard pool. The mother's wails of anguish alerted the
neighborhood upon discovering her child's body.
This experience had a powerful impact on Ruth. Every time she passed by her neighbor's house, she couldn't help but perpetually replay the events of that day in her head.
To this day, Ruth vowed never to let such a tragedy befall her loved ones.
No one should have to
deal with the loss of a child. It's hard to think of anything more horrific.
Luckily, drowning is easily preventable.
To keep you and your family safe around water, make sure to:- Always swim in a lifeguarded area.
- Learn swimming and water safety survival
skills.
- Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising in or near water.
- Children, inexperienced swimmers, and boaters should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
- Provide adequate barriers around swimming pools, spas, and landscape water features.
- Also, know what to do in an emergency. If a
child is missing, check the water first.
- And finally, know when to call 911 and have easy access to reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets, and a first aid kit.
Just in case you quickly skimmed over the bullet points, the following items are the two most crucial:- Close and constant adult supervision
(don't rely on floatation devices to supervise your child for you. You still need to stay within arms reach of your little one)
- Moreover, fence in your pools, spas and landscape water features with a climb-resistant mesh fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Make sure to maintain your fence and gate. Check for any holes that children can crawl through. Keep lawn furniture and
other climbable items out of reach to prevent kids from scaling the fence.
NEW BLOG POST
I recently added a new blog post to my website that might interest you especially if your kiddo needs help with his kicking skills. And if you're a swim instructor, maybe you already use this teaching tool. If so, I would love to hear from you.
Also, if you would like to share any tips to help children overcome their fear of water;
please join my private Facebook group here.
If you're a parent of a child with a fear of water, this Facebook group was created especially for you. Hope to see you on the inside.
Love the water but fence it in,
Tessa
P.S. To start your child on the path to becoming water safe, click here.
P.S.S. Join my private Facebook group, where together we can help children overcome their fear of water.
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