TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Think safety before kids hit water

ADVERTISEMENT

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 4, 2009

Florida kids aren't born with fins. Just like kids everywhere, they could probably use a little safety refresher before they head into the water - whether it's the Gulf or the neighborhood pool.

We asked Maureen Boucher, owner of the Tampa Bay-based Maureen's Swim Academy, to give us some basic tips for keeping kids safe. Here's her advice:

Refresher courses are invaluable. Children forget. That is normal. In just one or two days, a teacher can get them back to where they left off after last year's lessons, and then further their skills.

Accidents happen. Never leave your child or children unattended in the pool - or even the bathtub. Do not walk away for a second.

Stay vigilant. Think three times before ever letting someone else watch your children in, on or around any body of water. Do not allow your children to attend a pool party without a lifeguard hired to watch the pool.

All pools are not created equal. Teach your children about all of the different shapes of pools and wall heights that exist. Some pools are deepest in the middle; others are deep at one or both ends. Wall heights are extremely dangerous because a lot of children's arms are not long enough to reach up and grab onto the wall when necessary.

Be debris free. Don't leave any floating rafts or any toys at all in the pool area, especially while someone is swimming. Children will hold their breath up until the last minute under water; if the wind or just the motion of the water moves the raft over the child's head, he or she may not be strong enough to push it away.

Check for suction safety. Some pools have a hole where a vacuum gets attached. have a cap on the hole. A child swimming by could get hair or loose clothing caught in the suction, and there would be no way he or she would be able to escape or get a breath. Similarly, pool drains should never be a place to play around. There are too many different makes and models. Some are just not safe.

Look before you leap. Educate your children about diving in all bodies of water, not just pools.

Maureen Boucher has been teaching swimming and water safety for more than 16 years. Reach her at info@maureenswim.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT