Did You Know Drowning Knows No Season?

As the busyness of summer and school starting begins to wind down and your attention is now being paid to the approaching holiday season, it’s an important reminder to remember that drowning knows no season. Whether you’re in the pool or out, the risk of drowning remains the leading cause of unintentional death in children aged 1 to 4. While hanging poolside may not be at the top of your To Do list this time of year, the fact is most drownings occur during non-swim times, and it’s important to put into practice drowning prevention methods every day. 

So what should you remember for drowning prevention? First and foremost, if a child is ever missing, the first place you should ever look is in the pool or hot tub. Do not waste any time getting there and looking at the water or the surrounding area. 

Know Your Layers of Protection

These six layers of protection are designed to provide your child with the safety they deserve. Whether it’s teaching them survival swimming skills, safeguarding your pool from curious little ones, or giving yourself the skills necessary to intervene should an aquatic accident occur, knowing and implementing the layers of protection are keys to safer environments. 

1. Stay Close. Never leave a child alone near water, even for a second. 

2. Adult Supervision. Designate at least one adult “water watcher” at all times. If you’re with a group, be sure to rotate responsibilities. 

3. Survival Swimming. Teach kids survival swimming skills, including an independent swim and roll to back to float. 

4. Barriers. Swimming pools should be equipped with fences, alarms, and drains that meet regulations. 

5. Safety Equipment. Keep reaching and throwing aids near the pool at all times. 

6. Know CPR. Parents and child caregivers should know how to perform rescue techniques and strategies to respond to an emergency. If a child is missing, check the pool first! 

There’s No Replacement for Survival Swimming Skills

Children can begin learning their survival swimming skills around the age of 6 months old. After all layers of protection have been put into place, knowing how to get to the surface of the water and to the side of the pool is the last thing a child has to their advantage in the event they fall into the water. 

Drownings happen within seconds, and they are silent. Time is valuable in these horrible instances, and if the supervising adult doesn’t know a child has gotten into a pool, these skills can save their life. Learning survival swimming skills from a reputable swim school is essential and gives children the right knowledge and skillset to get to safety. 

Drowning Prevention in Katy

Survival swimming skills save lives, and Texas Swim Academy remains dedicated to providing children with the confidence they need to thrive in the water. There is nothing more important than your child’s safety, and while we are all beyond protective of our children, the fact is accidents happen. There is no way to guarantee an aquatic accident will never occur, but implementing proven layers of protection are huge strides in the right direction. Contact us to learn more about our survival swim program and how your child can learn to swim in weeks, not years.

SWIM SCHOOL IN KATY 

Texas Swim Academy is a state-of-the-art swimming facility offering water safety, survival swim, and kids swimming lessons in Katy, Texas. Owners Kathleen and Bruce McMordie, alongside our certified staff, help parents introduce children to water at an early age through the Infant Survival Swim Program , teaching life-saving techniques and basic swimming skills.

Our Stroke Development Program offers six different levels to help students progress in their swimming skills at his or her own pace. Our Adaptive Aquatics Program was created specifically for children with special abilities. Find swimming class registration information here. By subscribing to Texas Swim Academy’s blog , you can stay current on valuable water safety resources such as survival swim, health and wellness, Texas Swim Academy news and more. Follow our Facebook , Twitter, and YouTube pages for even more news, updates, and tips!