Drownings Happen Most During Non-Swim Times: How to Keep Your Loved Ones Safe

Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional death among children, and surprisingly, most drownings happen during non-swim times. This period is when children are near a pool or water source but not actively swimming, such as during a family gathering, backyard BBQ, or other seemingly safe moments. Texas Swim Academy, serving Katy, Houston, Fulshear, and Cypress, is committed to increasing awareness and offering tips to prevent these tragedies.

Why Non-Swim Times Are So Dangerous

In non-swim situations, parents may be less vigilant because they assume their children aren’t swimming or in immediate danger. However, water hazards still exist, especially when young children are nearby. During busy moments like social gatherings, distractions are high, and supervision often lapses, creating an environment where drownings are more likely to happen.

Key Non-Swim Time Safety Tips to Prevent Drowning

Here are essential safety tips to help keep children safe around water, even when they’re not actively swimming:

1. Designate a Water Watcher: Assign a responsible adult to watch children when they are near water, even if no one is swimming. This person should remain focused on the children and avoid distractions like phone calls or conversations.
2. Install Barriers: Use pool fences, alarms, and covers to block access to water. These can help deter children from wandering near water unsupervised.
3. Empty All Water Containers: After playtime, empty kiddie pools, buckets, and other water-filled containers. Children can drown in just a few inches of water.
4. Teach Water Safety Skills Early: Survival swimming lessons can empower children to handle water safely and equip them with lifesaving skills. Texas Swim Academy offers a range of swim programs to help children learn water safety from an early age.
5. Keep Rescue Equipment Nearby: Life rings, pool hooks, and a first aid kit should be accessible in case of an emergency. Quick response is crucial in drowning situations.
6. Learn CPR: In the unfortunate event of an emergency, CPR skills can make a life-or-death difference. Knowing how to perform CPR could save a life before emergency responders arrive.

Constant Vigilance Can Save Lives

By following these safety tips, parents and guardians can significantly reduce the risk of drowning, even during non-swim times. Non-swim time safety awareness is a critical step in protecting children around water and creating a secure environment for family gatherings and everyday life.

At Texas Swim Academy, we are passionate about equipping children with life-saving skills through high-quality swim instruction. Serving the communities of Katy, Houston, Fulshear, and Cypress, we provide lessons that teach water safety and build confidence in young swimmers. Our mission is to foster a safe environment where children learn, grow, and thrive around water. Contact us today to learn more about Texas Swim Academy and our survival swimming program.

FAQs About Swimming Lessons in Katy

1. Why survival swim lessons?
Children are naturally drawn to pools, hot tubs, lakes, ponds, streams, reservoirs, and beaches. Despite a parent’s best efforts at supervision, it only takes one head turn before an accident has occurred. Need some reasons to get started? You want your child to learn to swim and float in weeks, not years. You or your extended family live or vacation around backyard pools or natural bodies of water. You enjoy swimming and want your child to enjoy it as well. You would rather take control of your child’s safety than take chances. The best outcome from an accident is for it to never occur.

2. How are survival swimming lessons different from traditional swimming classes?  
Survival swimming lessons focus on self-rescue skills, such as floating, finding an exit, and safely remaining above water until help arrives. Unlike traditional swimming lessons that emphasize stroke techniques, survival swimming prioritizes water safety and the ability to respond in an emergency. They build a strong foundation for life-long confident swimmers. 

3. What age is best to start survival swimming lessons?  
Survival swimming lessons can begin as early as six months old, as infants are naturally comfortable in water and can quickly learn life-saving skills like floating. Ideally, children should begin swim lessons when they become mobile as the risk for an aquatic accident increases. However, these lessons are beneficial for children of all ages, and it’s never too late to start!

5. How long does it take for a child to become water-safe?
A child is NEVER considered “water-safe”. Active parental supervision is always recommended when any child is in or near the water. Each child learns at their own pace, but our structured curriculum and experienced instructors help children make steady progress. The actual time depends on the child’s age, frequency of lessons, and comfort level in the water. Regular attendance and reinforcement of learned skills are key for faster progress. We tailor lessons to each child’s needs to ensure consistent improvement. Often, a child can learn to roll to float in 16-20 lessons.

5. Why choose Texas Swim Academy over other swim schools in Katy, Houston, Fulshear, or Cypress?
Texas Swim Academy specializes in child-centered swimming techniques, qualified instructors, and small class sizes, ensuring personalized attention and a safe, fun environment. Serving local families with dedication, Texas Swim Academy is a trusted resource for building lasting swim skills.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is the best swim school near me offering result-oriented swimming lessons in Katy that cater to all ages and abilities. Our well-trained and experienced swimming instructors provide a variety of programs for infants through adulthood. For the little ones, we offer swimming lessons for babies and swimming lessons for toddlers focused on survival swimming skills to build a strong water safety foundation and foster water confidence at a young age. Once your child knows how to swim, our swim lessons for children will help refine techniques and build endurance, as the consistent practice of their swimming skills is an imperative part of becoming a strong swimmer. 

Our adaptive aquatics program is designed for children of all ages and abilities to ensure every child, including children on the autism spectrum, can benefit from these fundamental skills and enjoy the water in a safe and comfortable environment. Adults seeking to improve their swimming prowess or learn how to swim for the first time can enroll in adult swim lessons tailored to their specific goals.

Our swim lessons near me are a convenient and accessible way for you and your family to learn how to swim in a comfortable environment. Our dedicated instructors are passionate about teaching and ensuring your progress in the water. Take a few minutes to view Our Swimmer Stories to learn more about what other families are saying about their experience with Texas Swim Academy. 

Contact us to learn more about our programs or stop by our state-of-the-art swimming facility in Katy to register today. Be sure to follow our Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages for important news, updates, and swimming safety tips, and read our blog to keep up-to-date with important information on water safety and proper swimming lessons.