The Dangers of Holiday Parties

It’s easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season. Between shopping for gifts, planning your holiday get-together, and celebrating with family and friends, you can find yourself preoccupied with all that’s going on around you. While that can be OK in some instances, it’s not the case when you’re attending a holiday party with your kids where there is a pool or hot tub. If you’re not careful, being distracted at a holiday party can turn from exciting to disastrous very quickly.

The Dangers of Unattended Pools & Hot Tubs

The simple fact is most drownings occur during non-swim times. Nearly 70 percent of childhood drownings in kids aged 1 to 4 happen when the child was not actively swimming. All it takes is an inch or so of water for a child to drown. So what does a holiday party have to do with drowning? 

It’s safe to say that many of us find ourselves talking with guests and enjoying the ambiance of a holiday party. Our kids are playing with other kids, and we’re feeling the festive spirit. But if there is a pool or hot tub present on the property in which we are attending, then we can never assume that the kids will not be curious and venture out on their own. We must always be aware of our surroundings and provide our children with the means to remain safe. 

Know and Practice the Layers of Protection

Knowing the layers of protection is the best defense against accidental drownings. No matter if a pool is closed for the season or a part of the holiday party, these six layers of protection should be put into practice wherever you may be this holiday season.  

1. Never leave a child unattended in or around water.
2. Always designate a Water Water to have eyes on any children in the pool during swim time.
3. Invest in the right survival swim lessons.
4. All pools should have barriers: fences, alarms, and drains that meet regulations.
5. Safety aides and equipment should be readily available at the pool area.
6. Know CPR and rescue techniques so you can perform them in the event of an emergency, and always look in the pool first if a child goes missing.

Drowning Prevention in Katy
It’s never too early, or too late, to learn how to swim. Survival swim lessons can begin for children who are at least 6 months old. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children aged 1 to 4, and contrary to what many think, it is fast and it is silent. Don’t get so caught up in the holiday spirit that you become distracted from your surroundings, leaving your children at risk. Pool safety starts with a solid foundation of reputable swimming lessons. Contact us today to learn more about our survival swim program and the value of drowning prevention. 

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!