By enrolling your child in ISR Self-Rescue® Swimming Lessons, you have already taken a huge step toward keeping your child safe in and around the water. I have included below some quick tips about Water Safety to help prepare your home for the summer. Even if you do not own a pool, it is crucial to understand the importance of water safety.
- Effective Supervision: The most important defense. Never turn your back on your child around water.
- Pool Fences, Locks and Alarms: Make sure your pool is appropriately secured, year-round, with a permanent four-sided pool fence including a self-closing, self-latching gate.
- Educate Others: Nannies, grandparents, neighbors and caregivers should know your water safety rules and have appropriately installed security devices where relevant.
- Store All Toys: Toys are tempting; never leave them outside around water areas.
- Keep a phone by the pool. To be used for emergencies only. Don’t count on the cell phone in your pocket in case you need to jump in.
- Aim pool jets toward the pool’s shallow end. This creates a current that can guide a child toward the steps to exit the pool.
- Keep water levels full. This helps your child reach the elevated ledge and either get out of or hold on and call for help.
- Maintain CPR/1st Aid skills. Take a CPR/1st Aid class and encourage all caregivers to do the same.
- Refresher Lessons are also important for your child. As your child continues to grow their ISR Self-Rescue® skills will need to grow with them. Remember that swimming is a sensori-motor skill. Similar to riding a bike or roller-skating, your child will not ‘forget’ what he or she learned, but may outgrow the body that learned these skills due to height and weight changes. If you haven’t already, please give your ISR Instructor a call to schedule your child’s Refresher Lessons.
