(Newswire.net — September 21, 2016) — Swimming is supposed to be a fun activity, but it’s inherently dangerous if you don’t take precautions to keep your family safe and healthy. While summer is winding down, now is the perfect time to have conversations with your children about what it looks like to be safe around the water. Aquatic Achievers in Sydney can provide swimming lessons and safety education for the whole family.
Five Tips for Swimming Safety
Just because your children know how to swim doesn’t mean you can leave them unsupervised or stop discussing safety rules. Even adults and experienced swimmers can fall victim to the risks associated with swimming pools.
With that being said, make sure you discuss the following openly and frequently:
1. An Adult or Life Guard Should Always Be Present
“Drowning happens more than one might think, too. Between 2005 and 2009, there were an average 3,533 fatal unintentional drownings annually in the United States,” reports Pool Guard, a leader in pool safety technology. “This averages to about 10 deaths per day that are completely preventable. Installing swimming pool gates, pool safety covers, and pool nets is a great way to ensure no one gets in the pool unsupervised or in unsafe conditions.”
If you don’t think drowning is a serious threat to you and your loved ones, then you’re mistaken. Nobody should ever swim alone and there always needs to be at least one designated lifeguard or adult present when children are in or around the swimming pool.
2. Know the Signs of Drowning
The signs of drowning aren’t quite as loud and boisterous as you may think. Flailing arms and screaming are rarely involved. Instead, drowning almost always happens very unassumingly.
Because individuals are unable to breathe when drowning, they rarely make vocal noises. They also can’t wave for help, since they’re extending their arms in an effort to remain afloat. The body naturally attempts to conserve energy and there will be little to no disruption in the water. Noise is a good thing. It’s when children go silent that you need to carefully watch them.
3. Use Safety Nets and Covers When Pool Isn’t in Use
Whenever a backyard pool isn’t in use, proper safety elements should be in place. This includes both fences and latched gates around the pool, as well as pool covers on the top the pool. This not only keeps pets and children out of the water, but also helps keep the pool clean.
4. Water Should be Regularly Tested and Cleane
Speaking of cleanliness, water quality should be regularly tested for the presence of harmful bacteria and disinfected using the right cleaners
“A pool full of humans is liable to contain all sorts of pathogens, and humans are only part of the problem,” says Gwen Dewar, Ph.D. “Water may be tainted by other sources – organic material derived from decaying leaves, bird droppings, fungi-infested rainwater, or dead organisms.”
While disinfecting water with chlorine is the most popular method, other options – such as ultraviolet radiation – do exist. Stay abreast of new developments in this area and make water quality a priority.
5. Always be Conscious of Weather
Finally, you always need to be conscious of the weather. This is especially true in the summer when storms can pop up out of nowhere. Always seek shelter when thunder and lighting are near and never get back in the water until at least 30 minutes after the most recent lighting strike.
Oblivious is Not an Excuse
Many people try to hide behind a lack of knowledge when it comes to pool safety, but being oblivious to the facts is not a valid excuse for putting your children in harm’s way. Swimming is a fun activity that the entire family can enjoy, but make sure everyone understands the importance of being safe.