Swimming Essentials You Should Always Remember

Swimming season is upon us and that usually means it’s time to stock up on another year’s worth of swimming essentials. With so much time spent in the water and outside in the sunshine, it’s important to be prepared, protected, and ready for anything! So what do we consider the swimming essentials you can’t live without? Read on to learn more about our top picks to keep on hand throughout the swimming season ahead.

Sunscreen

It is crucial for children to wear sunscreen and protect their skin from the harmful rays of the sun. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends all children wear an SPF of at least 30. Children’s skin is more delicate and sensitive than adults’ skin and can be easily damaged by the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, leading to sunburn, skin aging, and an increased risk of skin cancer later in life. Sunscreen with an appropriate SPF can provide effective protection against the sun’s harmful effects, preventing skin damage and reducing the risk of skin cancer. Regular use of sunscreen also instills healthy habits in children that they can carry into adulthood. 

Swim Shirts/Rash Guards

Wearing a swim shirt or rash guard is an essential protective measure for children when they are outside in the sun and water. These specially designed shirts provide an additional layer of protection against harmful UV rays and reduce the risk of sunburn and skin damage. Water amplifies the sun’s intensity, so when children play in the water for longer periods of time, they’re making their skin more vulnerable. Swim shirts and rash guards play a pivotal role in keeping children cool and comfortable while swimming, which can help reduce the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke. 

Bright Colored Swim Suits

A recent study by ALIVE Solutions showcased the importance of children wearing brightly colored swimsuits when swimming. The study focused on the visibility of different colored swimsuits in both pools and open water. What they discovered was both white and blue-hued suits basically disappeared underwater while neon pink and neon orange were the most visible. While this isn’t to say that drowning will occur with those color suits, it’s important to note that because drowning is silent and fast, being able to locate a child in the water immediately is of the utmost importance. The blue and white-toned swimsuits may cause a delay in noticing a child in the water.  

Water Watcher Tags

We are surrounded by distractions. Whether it’s people, smart devices, or multiple things happening at once. But when kids are in or around the water, the distractions need to be put away and all attention needs to be focused on them. Water Watcher tags are a great way to designate who’s in charge when the kids are in the water so their sole focus is the kids. Be sure to pick up your Water Watcher tag in late May at Texas Swim Academy. 

No Puddle Jumpers or Floaties

With all the swimming essentials you should remember, it’s important to repeat again that puddle jumpers and floaties are NOT essentials and should never be used with your child. These “aids” cause more harm than good, giving a child a false sense of security when they are in the water. Please be mindful and remember that there is no substitute for survival swimming lessons, the number one layer of protection in water safety. 

Your Katy Survival Swimming Experts

When it comes to the safety of your child in and around water, Texas Swim Academy is here for you. Our swim school opened with one goal in mind – to provide families throughout Katy and the Greater Houston area with a results-oriented swimming program. Survival swimming skills can be taught in children as young as 6 months old, giving them the ability to survive in the water until help arrives should an aquatic accident occur. Give our Katy survival swimming teachers a call to learn more about our program and how we can help your kids gain valuable skills they will take with them throughout life. 

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!