You're not worried about your child drowning. You don't have a pool. Or maybe you have a pool, but there's a gate around it and your little one only goes in the pool with you and while wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. So, nothing to worry about, right? Not necessarily.
You've taken all the possible precautions you can, but drowning can still happen in mere seconds – that's why it's vital your child knows how to swim (and yes, your child can learn to swim starting at 4 MONTHS old at Goldfish Swim School).
As a parent, you know how quickly a mobile child can get into something they're not supposed to – like drawing a Sharpie masterpiece on the wall in the 60 seconds it takes you to use the bathroom. And so you also know you can't possibly keep an eye on your child every split second of the day.
But when it comes to the times when there's water nearby – even if no one is swimming – someone needs to take over watching when you can't. Always.
Ask Levi's mom, Nichole Hughes. She created Levi's Legacy after losing her son to drowning and wants everyone to be educated about water safety and the dangers of drowning – even while NOT swimming. It takes just a moment for a child to slip out of view and into the water.
We agree. And we celebrate her courage in using her son's legacy to prevent the same thing from happening to other families. That's why our instructors at Goldfish Swim School use integrity, compassion and trust to teach water safety during every single lesson, every single week.
Updated AAP Protocol
Something Hughes has been working on with the American Academy of Pediatrics is updating the protocol and recommendations to help prevent drowning in children. Some of the updates include encouraging parents to be diligent at bath time, to empty all buckets and wading pools immediately after use, to make sure children and teens are wearing life jackets near open bodies of water, and more. Most importantly, the AAP is recommending swim lessons for all children over the age of 1.
To learn more about our thoughts on the updates and all of Hughes hard work, read an open letter from our founders Chris and Jenny McCuiston.
Teaching Water Safety
At Goldfish Swim School, we teach how to be safer in and around the water. We teach children about what to do if they think someone nearby may be having a water emergency. We teach them what to do if they are in a water emergency themselves. We teach about lifeguards and lifesaving devices; about always swimming with a buddy; and about how to remain calm and how to use their swim skills to preserve their energy and get to safety. We think these extraordinary results are fundamental to effective swim lessons.
As a parent, you've educated yourself on water safety while in the water, the signs of drowning, what to do during a potential drowning emergency – but it's also vital to be aware of accidents that can happen even if you're not actively swimming.
- Talk about water safety: Whether you’re at your home or someone else’s with a pool, if you’re on vacation at the beach or at a hotel with a pool. Even if you’re not swimming, talk about water safety so it’s on everyone’s mind.
- Have proper safety features: This includes lifejackets, locks on pool gates, floatation devices, and a nearby phone for emergencies. Pro tip: There are apps that teach children how to call 911 on a smartphone and allow them to practice this.
- Know how to swim: For you and your children! Should an accident happen, the ability to stay above water longer aids in rescue.
Make water safety a part of your parenting checklist – and your loved ones' checklists –- so everyone can continue to have a golden experience.
Enroll your child in swimming lessons at Goldfish Swim School
We can help educate you and your child about water safety while teaching a lifelong, lifesaving skill. Stop in a Goldfish Swim School near you and sign up today! Our WOW! customer service will be just one of the reasons you'll love swimming lessons here.