Summer is coming to an end, but it is still an appropriate time to talk about childhood safety in the pool. ?According to the Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention, drowning is the number one cause of death in children and infants from ages 1-4 years old. ?The sad thing about this stat is that it is completely preventable! ?There is a multi level approach to prevent childhood drowning according the Infant Swimming Resource.
1. Effective Supervision
The most critical line of defense is adult supervision. No level of aquatic skill can replace active supervision. If your child is ever missing, look in the water first.
2. Pool Fences
Install a permanent 4-sided fence with self-locking gates. Ensure that the pool fence is at least 3-5 feet from the pool edge.
3. Alarms
Make sure all doors and windows leading to the pool are locked and alarmed.
4. Survival Swimming Lessons
A moment’s inattention does not have to cost a child his life. ISR’s Self-Rescue? training is an added layer of protection, teaching your child water survival skills in a completely safe environment.
5. CPR
If an emergency happens, it is essential parents and families are prepared. Learn to perform CPR on children and adults and remember to update those skills regularly.
Number 4 is the one that I am most interested in talking about today. ?The Infant Swimming resource teaches children water survival skills. ?Having small children myself, I had no idea that it was even possible to teach 6 months old how to survive if they fall into the water. ?What this organization does is truly amazing. ?Fight Gone Bad this year is sponsoring their non profit side in order to teach under privileged youth how to swim to prevent drowning.
I urge each and every one of you to teach your children how to swim. ?Not only is it a valuable life skill, it may save their life one day!
Click here for more info on ISR
Click here to donate to Fight Gone Bad in order to raise money for their cause!
ISR Self-Rescue? Swim-Float-Swim Sequence from Infant Swimming Resource on Vimeo.
