6/21/2016
By Lesley Harris, Marketing Associate
The Connection will be participating in The World’s Largest Swim Lesson, on Friday, June 24 at the Summit Family Aquatic Center!
The World’s Largest Swimming Lesson™ is an event to build awareness about the vital importance of teaching children to swim to help prevent drowning. On June 24th, waterparks, pools and other aquatic facilities around the globe will host local WLSL lessons to make noise that Swimming Lessons Save Lives.
Research shows participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children aged 1 to 4, yet many do not receive formal swimming or water safety training. Drowning remains the leading cause of unintended, injury-related death for child ages 1 to 4 and the second leading cause of accidental death for children under the age of 14.
Doors at the Aquatic Center open at 10am (no need to be a member of the SFAC. Free admission, stay and swim when the pool opens at noon!). Come see some of your favorite Connection Swim Instructors, be a part of the record, and raise awareness for this great event!
Check out WLSL.org for additional information and resources on drowning prevention.
School is out, the sun is out, and your kids can’t wait to get in the pool! But before they do, make sure their swimming experience is fun AND safe by going over these simple pool safety rules (courtesy of poolsafely.gov):
- Never leave a child unattended in or near water.
Always watch children when they’re in or near water, and never leave them unattended. Designate an official Water Watcher, an adult tasked with supervising children in the water. That should be their only task – they shouldn’t be reading, texting or playing games on their phone. Have a phone close by at all times in case you need to call for help, and if a child is missing, check the pool first. - Teach children how to swim.
Swimming is not only fun, it’s a lifesaving skill. Enroll children in swimming lessons; there are many affordable options available Summit, including The Connection! - Teach children to stay away from drains.
Do not play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools, and never enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover. Children’s hair, limbs, jewelry or bathing suits can get stuck in a drain or suction opening. When using a spa, be sure to locate the emergency vacuum shutoff before getting in the water. - Ensure all pools and spas – both in your backyard and any public pool you may visit – have compliant drain covers.
Virginia Graeme Baker, after whom the Pool and Spa Safety Act is named, died from drowning due to a suction entrapment from a faulty drain cover. All public pools and spas must have drain grates or covers that meet safety standards to avoid incidents like the one that took Graeme’s life. Powerful suction from a pool or spa drain can even trap an adult. - Install proper barriers, covers and alarms on and around your pool and spa.
Proper fences, barriers, alarms and covers can be lifesaving devices. A fence of at least four feet in height should surround the pool or spa on all sides and should not be climbable for children. The water should only be accessible through a self-closing, self-latching gate. Teach children to never try to climb over the gate or fence. Install a door alarm from the house to the pool area, and keep pool and spa covers in working order. - Know how to perform CPR on children and adults.
Often, bystanders are the first to aid a drowning victim, so learning CPR can help save a life. And once you’re CPR certified, make sure to keep your certification current. CPR classes are available through many hospitals, community centers, or by contacting the American Red Cross.
Visit poolsafely.gov for great safety materials for both parents and kids, and take their Pledge to pool safely this summer!