DROWNING PREVENTION TIPS

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• Constant supervision is the only sure way to prevent drowning. However, on occasion, supervision can break down. If you cannot find your child, check the pool first - seconds count.
• Never leave your child alone in the bathtub or pool - not even for a second.
• Do not leave the pool to answer the phone - this is the foremost distraction and is commonly stated as why the baby was left unattended - for just a second. Unfortunately, that is enough time for disaster. Bring a portable phone to the pool, install a phone jack by the pool, or ignore the call. Your child is more important.
• NEVER USE FLOTATION DEVICES! These devices lend a false sense of security to you and your child. Studies reveal that parents whose children use flotation do not watch their children closely. In addition, the posturing these devices develop is detrimental to learning true swimming skills that could save their life. Simply resist the urge and DON'T DO IT!
• Leave a responsible ADULT in charge of safety. Do not delegate this task to an older sibling. This is too much responsibility and many children have drowned with their older sibling -watching them in the pool.
• Never assume someone else is watching your child. If you and your spouse are by the pool delegate supervision to one person and then switch off.
• Maintain a safer home pool environment:
• Every backyard pool, pond, or lake should be completely fenced. The side of the house DOES NOT count as a fourth side. The point is, that there must be a barrier between your house and the pool. Install pool fencing specifically designed to keep children out or install a permanent fence around all four sides. Pay special attention to pet doors as children are small enough to get out the pet door.
  Install high locks with chimes on every door and window and consider getting a pool alarm. The goal is to put as many barriers as possible between your child and the pool.
• Do not leave chairs, ladders, or other objects near the pool that would allow a child to climb the fence.
• Make sure all windows of your house provide a clear view of the pool so you can easily spot a child who made his way to the pool unattended.
• Keep the pool clean. Cloudy or murky water can be a hazard.
• Water levels should be 3-4 inches from the top to make climbing out easier.

Survival swimming lessons: Sometimes even the best precautions can end in tragedy. The last and most important line of defense against childhood drowning is teaching our infants and young children how to survive and swim. If your child does find himself alone in the pool or body of water, his survival swimming skills could save his life. Keep these guidelines in mind when choosing a swimming program:

• Question everything about the program, the instructor's qualifications, and what specific skills will be learned.
• Be sure your child will learn how to swim with their head in the water, turn on his back to float, rest and breathe, and then flip back over to swim. The sequencing of skills is key to getting your child to safety.
• Make sure all lessons are one-on-one. NEVER enroll in a program where the instructor must divide time in the water between several unskilled students.
• Be sure your instructor can thoroughly explain hyponatremia (water intoxication) to you. Ask what precautions are taken before and during the lesson to avoid this potentially dangerous situation.
• Do not allow your child to be worked with for longer than 10 minutes.
• Do not enroll in any swimming program before your child is 6 months old and never enroll in a program that uses flotation devices.
• Finally, never believe that ANYONE is ever drown-proofed by any lessons or skill level. No one is ever drown-proofed and constant supervision in and around the water is the only sure way to prevent drowning.

I hope I've helped educate you and your family. If you have further questions about our program or water safety feel free to contact me at  863-409-7221