Although summer is winding down — being safe around water is a year-round pursuit.
Practical tips to help avoid danger, in or near water, can make a difference for both experienced and non-experienced swimmers.
In fact, infants are being encouraged to get acquainted with swimming before learning to walk.
“The earlier you start, the better,” said Maggie Mueller, site manager at the Seal Swim School in Lutz. “Just being in swim lessons can help prevent drownings from happening.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the No. 1 cause for unintentional, injury-led deaths among children between ages 1 and 4.
For ages 5 to 9, it is the second-leading cause for unintentional, injury-led deaths.
To help reduce these cases, organizations like the Seal Swim School have implemented classes for infants to adults.
With several branches spread throughout Tampa Bay, the school’s Water Babies course allows little ones to get familiar within a pool setting.
At 6 months old, they can transition into a new class that helps them learn proper breathing control in water. This entails gradually raising infants up overhead, then briefly dipping them underwater.
“Once they have their breath control down, then it comes to learning their balance and buoyancy,” Mueller explained. “Once you get all three of those together, they’re able to swim a little bit on their own.”
Babies have the capacity to learn these swimming techniques within a matter of weeks, she said.
How to keep safe
One common misconception is that skilled swimmers are fine if left alone in the water. However, they, too, should have someone else present.
Parents are more likely to leave their child unattended if they have swimming experience, according to Safe Kids Worldwide.
The organization reported that nearly half of those from ages 10 to 17, who drowned between 2005 and 2014, were reportedly trained swimmers.
As long as the swimmer is within a clear field of vision, the observer can be inside or out of the pool.
Mueller also suggests not using floatation devices when training a child in a home pool. This may give the child a false sense of security.
She noted that, “if they’re used to wearing a life jacket or puddle jumpers, they don’t know the difference – whether that’s on or not. If they get access to the pool, they’re going to run, jump in and think they can [float].”
Another false notion is that if a child is struggling in the water, they will always scream or splash, making a scene. However, many sink to the bottom without notice.
In some cases, the descent may be so quick, that the child may not have time to react.
This is why vigilance in the water is always a good idea.
What to do during an incident
Aside from precautions, there are methods that can be used during an incident.
At Seal Swim School, kids are taught to “get the wall” if they accidently fall in the water.
With this, children are drilled to immediately turn around and clutch the edge of the wall they fell from.
If they cannot grasp the edge or need time to breath, they are shown how to roll onto their backs and float facing upward.
Alex Delgado is the Aquatic and Programs director at the YMCA in Zephyrhills.
There, he and his staff also provide helpful techniques, such as Jump-Push-Turn-Grab.
“If you fall in, you push off the bottom, it gets you back to the top, then you grab the edge and climb out,” he explained.
YMCA students practice this drill by diving into the water and going through the steps, in cycles, to become more accustomed.
In a situation where a victim feels helpless, the reaction may be to fight the water, said Mueller. However, she suggests that the best thing to do is “relax, take a deep breath, roll on your back and float.”
By doing this, the individual will maintain buoyancy while preventing water from filling the lungs.
Because these techniques do not come instinctively, Mueller and Delgado stress the importance of taking swimming classes to sharpen those skills.
When tending to a victim in the water, one should still be tactful in the approach.
If a child should go missing, the search should first begin at any large body of water, whether a pool or a nearby lake, because time is crucial. Any objects obstructing a clear view should be moved out the way in order to scan the bottom of the water.
Instructors also tell students to “reach or throw, don’t go.”
This encourages throwing a floatation device, or extending a long object to a struggling victim.
They suggest the rescuer lay on his or her stomach while using an object, like a pole or foam pool noodle, to draw the victim to the edge.
“You never want to jump in and try to save somebody unless you’re a 100 percent sure they cannot overpower you,” Mueller advised.
The rescuer should be at an advantage, such as an adult tending to a small child.
Even if CPR has been performed successfully, call 9-1-1 just to be on the safe side.
Even when someone remains conscious after a near-drowning incident, it is still important to seek medical attention.
Early warning signs to watch for include:
- Someone positioned vertically instead of horizontally while underwater
- Age: The very young or elderly may need more vigilance
- A swimmer not removing hair from his or her face, could signal they’re having trouble staying afloat
- Someone struggling to cling to nearby objects
It’s always a convenient time to learn how to swim, and the measures in reducing danger.
To find a local Seal Swim School branch, visit SealSwimSchool.com.
To find a nearby YMCA class, visit TampaYMCA.org.
Stay safe while enjoying the water.
Follow these precautions:
- Never swim alone; always have at least one other person present.
- Avoid jumping into water known to be shallow.
- Require kids to ask adults’ permission before going into water, to be sure that someone always knows where they are.
- Avoid going into water if you are tired or drowsy.
- Keep track of large groups in pool by doing a head count.
- Avoid rough play or bearing weight on another in water.
- Become trained and certified in CPR.
- Avoid eating or chewing gum while in water.
- Keep home pool fenced off from small kids.
Warning signs a swimmer might be in trouble:
- Someone positioned vertically instead of horizontally while underwater
- A swimmer not removing hair from his or her face, could signal they’re having trouble staying afloat
- Someone struggling to cling to nearby objects
Note: Very young and elderly swimmers may need more vigilant supervision.
Source: Seal Swim School and Zephyrhills YMCA
Published August 14, 2019
