PoolsidewithRenae

You have to stop putting your child in a puddle jumper/lifejacket in the pool to swim around with. ESPECIALLY once you've begun formal swim lessons!

Why??

Life jackets were not intended for prolonged recreational usage. They keep the body in a vertical position in the water which is entirely opposite of what children need to do when swimmina without it. We need to be horizontal, flat on top of the water, with our eyes down and feet up.

It's especially important to avoid usage when learning how to swim. Going back and forth between being vertical and working on getting horizontal is extremely confusing and will prolong their progress to independent swimming.

I highly recommend you get in the water and hold your non-swimmers. Such a fun way to make memories while keeping them safer.

I wouldn't let them get in the pool/ water until they give me a high five or ask for permission to go to the water.

Why? Most drowning incidents occur outside of planned swim times. This means children are going back to the water alone and most likely, fully clothed.

Setting a pre-swim routine like giving a high five to a parent/caregiver helps reinforce the idea of "someone needs to know I'm about to get into the water" before they run and jump in.

As a lifeguard, l've seen MANY young swimmers get so excited to be at the pool that they just run and jump into the water without a parent there or lifejacket on and they need assistance to safety.

Make sure EVERYONE who swims with your kids knows the routine and sticks with it!

Spring Break safety Series day 1! Thank you for being here and caring about water safety!

Before you leave for vacation the first thing to consider and be aware of: WHERE IS THE WATER AT, if at all, before you even get there.
Review the property photos and specifications for any bodies of water. Best thing to do is ASK the owner/property manager about any water on the property so you have an idea ahead of time.

First thing you should do when you arrive is go locate that water (without the kids) and make sure all barriers/fences are locked (if possible).

Keep these locations in mind because if your child goes missing during your stay PLEASE CHECK THE WATER AREAS FIRST! Around 70% of drownings occur during non-swim times meaning children are finding their way back to the water when you weren't actively in the water so checking these areas first are extremely important.

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Disclaimer: The information in this post is provided for educational and informational purposes only and does not guarantee safety. If there is water, there is always a risk involved.
Renae Schuldt and Aquarius Aquatics LLC shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, or loss resulting from the use or misuse of this information.

Make sure you don't miss a single tip for a safer spring break trip! Preventable aquatic incidents can happen to anyone at anytime, even on vacation! Every day this week I'll be sharing my favorite water safety tips to help you keep your family safer around the water, the best part is that these tips can be applied to a variety of situations! Thank you for being here and sharing to help spread the knowledge 🫶🏼

This is the BEST starting point for your young swimmer. Not a completed list of safety skills. Some other important basic skills are: being able to locate and swim to a safe exit point, entering and exiting the pool, and knowing that we DON'T GO TO THE WATER WITHOUT SOMEONE WATCHING US.
Quick recap:
1. Floating: understanding how the water supports us when we stretch our body out and how we can use it to relax and catch our breath. It's so important to know how our breathing affects how we float (like if we breathe out too much we sink) and most importantly HOW TO GET INTO THAT FLOAT no matter what we're doing (swimming, jumping, or if we were to fall in unexpectedly from the stairs or side for little ones)
2. How to hold our breath (under 5) and how to blow out bubbles (over 5) and when it's appropriate to breathe.
They're going to snort/drink the water at some point in time (I mean it still happens to me lol) it'll be okay we just need to know how to handle it!
3. How to move our body effectively through the water so it's not a struggle. Personally, I feel like some swim lessons give all skills at once leading to poor technique and sloppy inefficient swimming. When we focus on kicks first (kids will naturally figure out something to do with their arms) kiddos have a much easier time moving across the pool. Keeping their legs up on top of the water helps keep that horizontal position as well. Once strength and endurance is gained we start working on strokes!