WATER SAFETY DAY 2019

Saturday, May 18, 2019 is WATER SAFETY DAY at Goldfish Swim School locations across the country. This annual event educates children about being safe in and around water through an entertaining festival atmosphere. Stop by to participate in presentations with Bubbles, the Goldfish Swim School mascot, and take in safety demonstrations and drills with staff lifeguards. Plus there are fun activities, crafts and games to enjoy as well.

Water Safety Day is open to all families with children living in communities where the swim schools are located. Your family doesn't have to be enrolled in Goldfish Swim School and it is FREE to participate in this golden experience. This Water Safety Day experience is a great way to reinforce the danger of drowning with kids, provide them with water safety tips, meet the staff at Goldfish Swim School and check out the pool facilities.

Contact your local Goldfish Swim School for specific details about what specific locations have planned for this year's WATER SAFETY DAY as well as the hours when their activities will take place. Find a location near you by visiting goldfishswimschool.com. There are Goldfish Swim Schools across the USA in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin; as well as in Ontario Canada.

A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador for Goldfish Swim School. In exchange for sharing my family's experiences at Goldfish Swim School, ageekdaddy.com receives complimentary products and services. Opinions expressed are honest and my own. We have been going to this swim school for a number of years and wouldn't have continued this partnership for so long if they hadn't earned a Geek Daddy nod of approval.

GOLDFISH SWIM SCHOOL WATER SAFETY DAY

Goldfish Swim School locations across the country will be celebrating Water Safety Day on Saturday, May 19, 2018 and everyone in the community is welcome to stop by their pools for a special event. While water safety is a topic the swim school takes very serious and focusses on throughout the year with its students and their families, this one day event is a great way to reinforce these important messages in a fun way. Stop by to check out a presentation about being safe in the water with Bubbles, Goldfish's mascot, as well as take in some safety demonstrations and drills in the pool led by swim school instructors and lifeguards. Plus there will be fun activities and games to participate in as well. Water Safety Day events are open to the public and FREE to attend.  Your family doesn't have to be Goldfish Swim School members to participate in this golden experience.

The Goldfish Swim School facility that my kids are enrolled at has a lot of fun festivities planned for May 20th. You have your choice of jumping in their indoor pool or some outdoor bounce houses during their Water Safety Day festivities. Complimentary beverages, hotdogs and snacks will be given out from a food truck in their parking lot as well. Plus my daughter's favorite part of last year's event will be returning again ... an incredibly talented balloon artist who will be providing kids with some wonderful souvenirs to take home with them. Plus there will be lots of other things to do that you'll have to stop by to find out about. Did I mention this is all FREE for parents and children who stop by whether or not you are taking lessons at the swim school?!

Contact your local Goldfish Swim School for specific details about what specific locations have planned for Water Safety Day as well as the hours when their activities will take place. Find a location near you by visiting goldfishswimschool.com. There are Goldfish Swim Schools across the USA in Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin; as well as in Ontario Canada.

Whether or not you can make it to Water Safety Day, here are some tips from my friends at Goldfish Swim School to keep in mind to be proactive in avoiding a tragedy:

• Keep it Fresh:  When the weather warms up families start spending more time in and around water. As summer approaches make sure to go over water safety rules and practice with children what to do in an emergency. Use your own behavior in and around water as a model for kids to follow. They are more likely to pick up on how to stay safe around water by following your example. 

• Pool Rules: If you are going to be spending a lot of time around pools it is always a good idea to have some hard-and-fast rules for your family. No running. No diving in head first. Depending on the ages of your kids, you might require a lifejacket, or have a “no going in the deep end” rule. It’s also a good idea to have built-in breaks. Swimming is tiring and you can get dehydrated or fatigued without really realizing it. Taking a 15-minute break each hour to drink some water and chill is a great rule to make your own this summer! 

• Never Swim Alone:  This is a rule that should NEVER be broken, no matter where you go or how old you are. Even the strongest swimmers can cramp up or have a medical emergency. Don’t enter the water anywhere, for any reason, alone. No surfing at the ocean, kayaking on the lake or doing laps at the hotel pool by yourself. 

• Get CPR Certified:  Even families with the best laid plans can find themselves in an emergency situation. Being prepared – and trained – for an emergency is one of the best water safety tips out there. Have someone in your family become CPR certified (with rescue breathing) or maybe do it together as a group activity. It’s a relatively quick and easy class and it’s offered by community centers and other local groups. It could save a life.

• Always Pay Attention:  There could be a hundred adults around a pool party but if no one is paying attention to what is going on in the water it really doesn't matter how many people are there. Sometimes, even a few minutes of inattention can be deadly in and around water. When water is around, there should always be a few dedicated “water watchers” whose sole job is to keep an eye on the swimmers. Vigilance is key. No chatting, no checking your phone. Watch the water and those in it.

• Lessons Learned: One of the best ways to keep kids safer in and around water is to teach them to respect it. One of the best ways to do that is to enroll them in swim lessons. The confidence and skills they’ll learn are invaluable.

Being enrolled at Goldfish Swim School has been a wonderful experience for our family.  Both my son and daughter have really excelled in developing their swimming skills through the lessons they've taken there.  But in addition to mastering swimming strokes, they've also learned how to remain calm and handle problems that could endanger them while in or around the water.   In fact, last summer when my son got in an over his head situation while at a water park that could have quickly become dangerous, he used the water safety tips he had worked on during lessons at Goldfish Swim School to keep his cool.  He didn't panic, treaded water, looked for the closest point to get out of the water, and got the attention of a lifeguard to help him. You can read more about how Goldfish Swim School saved the day in this past ageekdaddy.com blog post.

We've attended Water Safety Day at our local Goldfish Swim School the last several years and always had a great time.  As a parent, I appreciate fun family activities like this that are both entertaining and educational.  This event absolutely gets A Geek Daddy nod of approval! 

Goldfish Swim School Water Safety Day 2017

** A Geek Daddy is a brand ambassador for Goldfish Swim School **

My daughter and I attended the annual WATER SAFETY DAY event hosted by Goldfish Swim Schools at the location where she takes her lessons this weekend. Bubbles, the school's mascot, provided a safety tips presentation where kids who participated earned special ribbons and safety badges.  Plus kids could work on their water safety skills in one of the facility's pools with some help from the school's instructors.  It was a great safety refresher for the children who are members of the swim school and the event was also open to the general public so parents considering signing up their kids for lessons could take advantage of the presentation and activities with their children as well while checking out the place and meeting some of the staff.

While water safety is a serious matter there was also a lot of fun and games associated with this free event. Kids were treated to face painting, a goofy photo booth, bounce houses, and balloon animals.  Plus there was a family open swim time going on in the main pool that was available to anyone who wanted to jump in.

The highlight of this year's WATER SAFETY DAY though for my daughter was the foam bubble battle she had with her swim teacher in Goldfish Swim School's parking lot which was closed off to provide a carnival space for entertaining activities. It was nice to see the kids getting to know their instructors outside of the pool and having a good time hanging out with them.  I'm sure that will have a positive impact on their rapport during lessons.

If you weren't able to attend this year, here are six important questions every parent should ask themselves before allowing a child to be around the water that Goldfish Swim School's staff emphasized during the event:

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.

If you didn't attend WATER SAFETY DAY make sure it is on your radar to swing by your local Goldfish Swim School next year to join in the activities.  The event is full of family-friendly fun plus also provides some valuable educational information to help keep kids safe.  And as I mentioned before...it is FREE to attend for any family with preschool and school aged children. We really had a good time!

For more information about water safety tips and swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School, please visit goldfishswimschool.com.

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.