Saturday, May 13, 2017

Water Safety Day at Goldfish Swim School

** A Geek Daddy is a Goldfish Swim School Brand Ambassador **

Goldfish Swim Schools across the country are celebrating Water Safety Day on Saturday, May 20, 2017.  Participating locations will be open to the general public for this special event where they'll hosting a FREE open swim along with water safety presentations and other fun activities during the event.  Keep an eye out for the Goldfish Swim School mascot BUBBLES who will be helping instructors with presentations and be posing for photographs.  Visit goldfishswimschool.com to see if there is a location near you.

In addition to opening up the main pool for families to swim in and providing water safety tips, the facility my kids go to for swim lessons will be throwing a fun festival in their parking lot.  There will be bounce houses and inflatable playscapes along with a variety of activities, games and other family entertainment at the Birmingham, Michigan location from 4:30 to 6:30pm.  There is absolutely no charge for anything during the event and you don't have to be a swim school member to enjoy this golden experience! Just stop by for an entertaining time that will also provide your family with important information about being safe in the water.  Times and activities may vary at each venue so contact your local Goldfish Swim School for complete details about the schedule for their Water Safety Day event.

Goldfish Swim School understands that they have a responsibility to develop well-rounded swimmers so in addition to teaching swimming strokes they also incorporate water safety skills into each and every lesson.  They also put an emphasis on water safety by having Bubbles provide presentations on the topic to kids at local libraries and schools.  The highlight of their educational effort though is Goldfish Swim School's annual Water Safety Day in May which features educational presentations, safety skill stations in the pool with instructors helping kids practice important techniques, informational tables full of helpful resources, appearances by local police and fire departments along with the open family swim time, food, and games.

Knowing water safety tips is important all year long; but is especially vital to be vigilant during the spring and summer months when many families are most likely to be spending time in or near the water.  Whether you are boating on a river or lake, swimming in an ocean or pond, or playing around at a splash pad or waterpark, it is never silly to be overly cautious.  Here are six important questions every parent should ask themselves before allowing a child to be around the water:

1. When can my child swim alone?
Depending on a child's swimming skills you don't necessarily need to be in the water with them, but juveniles should always have someone within eye contact of them. Here are some more tips to keep in mind to help you determine if your child is ready to swim alone.  That being said, kids should always swim with a buddy and actually adults should too!  Having a buddy present in the water means there’s someone there to assist if needed, or to go get help should an emergency arise.

2. When should we use puddle jumpers and/or life jackets?
When learning to swim, we believe it is more beneficial for kids to learn without water wings, puddle jumpers or life jackets. However, every child should always wear life jackets when on a boat (and it’s generally the law in every state that kids ages 13 and younger must wear life jackets on boats). Beyond that, you’ll have to consider what kids of water you’re in, how deep it is, your child’s skill level, if you’re in the water, and other issues.

3. What are the signs of drowning?
Drowning happens quickly, and it can be difficult to notice because it doesn’t involve crazy splashing and loud yelling. If someone is having trouble in the water, they may quietly slip under the water. That’s why it’s important to recognize the signs of drowning and what to do if someone appears in distress.

4. How can I help my kids become better swimmers?
Did you know that teaching kids water safety helps kids to become better swimmers? It’s true. When kids – and all of us, really – understand what it takes to be safer in the water and implement those points, the focus can be on improving swim skills. Perpetual (year-round) swim lessons are best and truly helps keeps kids safer in the water.

5. How can we stay safe in an indoor pool?
Even if you’re not swimming outdoors, there are certain considerations that need to be made to stay safe at an indoor pool.  For instance, make sure young children aren’t enticed to go near the pool unattended to scoop up toys randomly floating around – and always keep an eye on your kids, even if there’s a lifeguard on duty.

6. What to do if I don’t know how to swim?
It can be quite the conundrum: How do you keep your kids safe in the water when you don’t know how to swim yourself? First of all, it’s important to not impart any fear of the water onto your kids. And teaching your kids to swim and learn the 5 things every kid should know how to do in the water helps empower your kids and yourself to be safer and confident in the water.

My kids and I will absolutely be attending Water Safety Day this year!  I hope you and your family will consider swinging by your local Goldfish Swim School on May 20th as well!  If your kids aren't taking lesson there it is a great chance to check out the facility as well.  They have classes that babies as young as 4 months old can participate in going up to programs including a swim team for kids up to twelve years old. We've just had a great experience since my kids joined Goldfish Swim School.


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