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Safety tips for little swimmers

Observer-Reporter - 5/19/2018

It will be summer before we know it, and, for some, that means endless days at the pool, soaking in enough sun to last even during the winter months.

But time spent in the water isn't all fun and games.

From 2005 to 2014, there were more than 3,500 fatal unintentional drownings (nonboating related) annually in the United States. An additional 332 people died each year during that time from drowning in boating-related incidents.

As May is recognized as Water Safety and Drowning Prevention Month, it is a good time to be reacquainted with statistics such as these and the facts about pool safety and how to be safe around water, whether it's at the beach or in the bathtub.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children ages 1 to 4, and the second leading cause of injury death for children ages 1 to 14. Moreover, thousands of children are hospitalized each year for non-fatal drowning incidents. Many sustain life-long, profound, permanent damage.

"Many people are not aware that drowning can happen very quickly," said Stephanie Wright, general manager of Goldfish Swim School in Peters Township. "A child can drown in as little as one inch of water, in as little time as 20 seconds. Parents need to supervise children around water at all times, even if they know how to swim. There is no substitute for proper supervision."

Katie Stache, aquatics supervisor at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center, said that even if a child has received swimming lessons, adults shouldn't assume they can swim. She advises adults to be within an arm's reach of children while in the water.

According to Wright, drowning happens very quickly. Often, adults are around when a child is drowning, but they are unaware of what is happening, as drowning is almost always deceptively quiet. The waving, splashing and yelling that we often see on television is rarely seen in real life. Because of that, constant supervision is important so that a child whose face has gone under water or who is struggling will not be able to shout for help.

Other signs of drowning include:

Head low in the water, mouth at water level

Head tilted back with mouth open

Eyes glassy and empty, unable to focus

Eyes closed

Not using legs and vertical in the water

Hyperventilating or gasping

Trying to roll over onto their back

"No one should ever swim by him or herself, not even an adult," Wright advises.

Before beginning to explore the often "mysterious" deep end of the pool, Wright suggests that children should be armed with several basic skills that they should be taught in swimming lessons and when swimming with parents. These skills include getting in and out of the pool safely. Parents can help little ones learn how to get out of the pool by manipulating their bodies in order of elbow, elbow, tummy, knee.

"Practice this often," Wright said. "You can even do this on your living room floor by having your baby climb onto a couch or chair. After you practice, always remember to celebrate. Eventually, your little one will be strong enough to manage the movement on their own. This is a skill that kids continue to use to safely exit the pool, even when they are older."

Once they have this movement down, Wright suggests helping the child jump, turn, and swim to the wall by encouraging the child to jump off the side of the pool to the parent, who can then help the child to physically turn back to the wall and assist them in getting out of the pool using the elbow, elbow, tummy, knee method described above.

"Do this over and over again, and as they get more confident, let them go under the water and come to the surface on their own. This teaches kids to automatically turn back to the wall behind them to climb out. If a child were to fall into a pool, these skills could help them find the quickest way to safety," Wright said.

Wright also suggests the Sea Otter Float, for which the parent or instructor works with the child on turning over and getting their faces out of the water to take a breath when they fatigue.

When searching for a floatation device for a child, look for one that is approved by the United States Coast Guard with the identifying seal of approval on the device.

"The most important thing, beyond that the device is USCG-approved, is that the device fit the child right now," Wright emphasized. "The fit matters because if your child's head or ears can slip down beneath the life jacket, the device won't be able to work as designed to keep the child's head above water for proper breathing."

Stache advises that children are taught to ask permission before entering the water, and to stay away from pool drains or opening. She recommends adults take first-aid training courses to feel confident in the case of an emergency.

Goldfish Swim School has locations in Peters Township and Wexford. For more information on classes and Safety Dav events taking place today, visit www.goldfishswimschool.com.

Information on Cameron Wellness Center swim classes can be found at www.wrcameronwellness.org, or by emailing Stache at cstache@whs.org.