EnGedi Aquatics

The question still remains is it still safe to have swimming as part of your training routine in light of the coronavirus pandemic?

Water Transmission and COVID-19: What You Need to Know

There is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread to humans through the use of pools and hot tubs. Proper operation, maintenance, and disinfection (e.g., with chlorine and bromine) of pools and hot tubs should remove or inactivate the virus that causes COVID-19.

At what age can my baby start swimming lessons?
Babies can start swimming lessons as early as six months old. Most swim schools however prefer to start them from 10 to 12 months, but it all depends on the different methods of teaching. Baby swim classes are generally group classes with a parent or caregiver in the pool as well.

Why you should start early?
Children love water and the sooner they learn to appreciate it and understand its possible dangers, the better. The younger they are, the less resistant they are to learning to swim, making teaching them that much easier. There’s no reason for a baby or toddler to be scared of water unless there is an underlying issue such as previous bad experience or water that’s too cold.

Baby swimming is a wonderful opportunity for you and your baby to bond. Nothing comes close to being with your little one in the pool and seeing the joy on his face in lesson.

Contact EnGedi Aquatics for further information on [email protected] or 076 687 0436

A swimming pool fence is no longer good enough!

Be aware of the new safety standards for private swimming pools.

Every private swimming pool that can hold more than 30cm of water should be surrounded not only by a kid-proof fence, but should also be fitted with a safety net or a safety cover to prevent children drowning, according to a draft update from the SA Bureau of Standards (SABS).

Such a net or cover cannot be DIY installed but must be fitted by an "accredited responsible party", according to the standard.

A cover is disqualified if it allows rainwater to pool for more than five minutes, or if a child can unfasten it. It must require keys, a combination lock or "special tools, devices, or inaccessible locations" to remove.

For larger swimming pools a net or cover must have a carrying weight of at least 220k to "permit a rescue" operation while holding up one child and two adults. For smaller pools, less than 2.4m at its widest point, the weight requirement is 125kg, for one adult and child.

Other changes include a requirement for self-closing gates in fences or walls around swimming pools, and a new obligation on renters or other non-owners to keep completely empty any unsafe pools.

It is the responsibility of the owner of a pool to ensure it has both a fence or wall and a net or cover, the standard holds – but any occupier of a property "shall not allow water in an unprotected swimming pool".

Occupiers are also responsible for ensuring that some sort of pole, be it a brush or a leaf scoop, is available near any pool "to assist a distressed person in the water", and to regularly inspect a pool enclosure for damage.

The standard requires walls or fences to be at least 1.2m tall, to be sunk into the ground at least 50cm deep, to be very hard for children to climb, and with gates difficult for children to open.
EnGedi Aquatics

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It is with great pleasure that I write to welcome you back to another great swimming year. We hope that everyone enjoyed a fun filled and relaxing holiday! If you have not yet enrolled, please email us on [email protected] or visit our website www.engediaquatics.com. 2020 start on Monday 20 January 2020 and lessons are booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

Welcome to all our new swimmers. Looking forward to an AWESOME year ahead in the pool!

When you bring your baby home from the hospital, you might be kept awake at night, thinking of how to best protect this precious new life. And, as most parents know, keeping children safe includes wondering if your bundle of joy needs baby swimming lessons, or if learning to swim can wait until they get older. The truth is, the earlier you can get your baby swimming, the better. Here’s why;

1. Comfort in the Water

Perhaps one of the most compelling reasons to start baby swim lessons is the way it builds a level of comfort around water for the child. The sooner your tot is exposed to water, the sooner they will respect and enjoy it. A heightened appreciation of water (and how their bodies feel in water) will increase pool safety and help your baby understand safety-related boundaries from an early age. Having this type of understanding and a level of comfort in water can make bathtime more fun for both of you, and make for less worry when taking them to water, whether heading to the beach or a pool.

It’s always important to note that even though increased safety and comfort in water are positive parts of your baby’s development through lessons, you must always watch your child around water. No amount of swimming lessons for babies can replace the need for constant adult supervision. Swim lessons will, however, keep your baby safer and help prepare them to enjoy swimming with a parent or caregiver.

2. Sensory Development

Neuroscience research is showing more and more that the human brain develops at an astounding rate between birth and three years of age. But the first year is particularly crucial to nurturing your child’s cognition. In fact, research has found that a baby’s brain doubles in size in the first year of life. And one of the best ways to nourish neurons and encourage brain development is by stimulating the senses.

As you may have guessed, swimming lessons for babies can do just that. The experiences of interacting with the water, being exposed to new movements, seeing a wide variety of new objects and observing new people all get neuron’s firing. The novelty and sensory differences between each of these elements greatly contribute to sensory development.

3. Parent and Baby Bonding

Research also shows that a key indicator of a child’s healthy social, emotional, intellectual and physical development is the presence of a secure attachment with their primary caregiver. This could be mom, dad, a grandparent or a nanny, as long as the baby has one person who is a central figure in their early life. This type of secure attachment is formed whenever you talk, play or laugh with your little one. It’s also fostered by skin on skin contact, which is a unique aspect of swim lessons. Babies will spend much of their time in class being held in their parents’ arms, allowing for lavish skin on skin contact.

Infant swim lessons offer a great opportunity to connect and play together. They provide the chance for you to be a source of comfort to your baby as they explore a new environment, and for the two of you to make eye contact and have fun. This sort of consistent activity can go a long way in solidifying your bond with your little one. Your baby will also begin to recognize that you need to be with them before they may go in the water, which is very helpful in increasing pool safety.

4. Body and Spatial Awareness

Baby swimming lessons help an infant to learn more about how their body moves, and to be aware of the space around them. This awareness is very important in the development of fine and gross motor skills. As you begin to attend newborn swimming lessons regularly, you will notice your young one’s exploration of how their actions affect the water. Being in the water allows for 360-degree feedback of the body movements, so it gives children a way to feel (and see) the cause and effect of motion.

Swimming lessons for babies can be instrumental in their growth and development, and the earlier you begin them, the better results you’ll have. So if you’re still on the (pool) fence about whether it’s time to begin, we assure you… today is the day to jump into baby swimming lessons with your little love. @ [110468990308450:274:EnGedi Aquatics]

A surprising thing that newborn babies can do better than anyone else.

Newborn babies have an assortment of automatic reflexes that they lose later in development, as their brains gradually take the reins in natural development.

One of these reflexes is the "diving reflex," also known as the bradycardic response; also exhibited by seals and other aquatic animals, the instinct may be a vestige of our ancient marine origins.

It works like this: Infants up to 6 months old whose heads are submerged in water will naturally hold their breath. At the same time, their heart rates slow, helping them to conserve oxygen, and blood circulates primarily between their most vital organs, the heart and brain. The survival response keeps accidentally submerged babies alive much longer than adults would survive underwater.

@ [110468990308450:274:EnGedi Aquatics]

Swimmers live longer, study says.
The more you swim, eat right and avoid to***co, the longer you'll live, according to two studies of more than 355,000 people. You may add as many as 10 years to your life, says heart disease researcher Jeremiah Stamler, M.D., of Northwestern University in Chicago. EnGedi Aquatics
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Below are the tips that every parent and pool owner should take note of:

*Never leave a child unattended near any source of water, even a bathtub, fish pond, and water bucket.

*If you have a pool or water feature, get a safety cover fitted by a reputable supplier. Don’t secure a pool but ignore a pond or fountain! Check the cover fasteners regularly and replace them as soon as the weather or break – they are crucial to the effectiveness of such covers.

*If your children visit friends whose pools are not secure, urge the parents to fit a safety pool cover.

*Check the weight tolerance of any safety cover you purchase.

*Make sure that your pool is fenced and fitted with a self-closing and self-latching gate that opens to the outside of the pool. The latch should be out of reach of children.

*A swimming pool fence is not a substitute for supervision – close the pool completely.

*Don’t leave toys in or right next to a pool – children will be tempted to retrieve them.

*Display a safety chart with emergency numbers on your pool fence.

*Keep your cell phone or cordless phone near the pool so that you can call 10177 in an emergency.

*Ensure that every adult in the home knows how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), including domestic workers.

*As soon as a child is found in a pool, start CPR and do not stop before emergency services arrive on the scene. It can make the difference between full recovery, brain damage, and death.

*Discourage walking or playing on any pool cover. Fit a sensor beam if your children tend to flout the rules.

*If your child has suddenly gone quiet or wandered off, check the pool first. Even a minute can make the difference between survival, irreversible brain damage and death.

*Empty baths, basins and nappy buckets immediately after use.

*Never leave the pool area unattended even for a moment; take the children with you if you do.

*It is a good idea to how to and teach children to swim. However, a child who knows how to swim is not out of danger. He or she still needs supervision at all times.

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emergency

Dial 10111 to contact a national call centre that can assign a patrol vehicle to attend to a crime incident.

Fire and

Dial 10177

Cellphone networks

Dial 112 from any cellphone to be connected to a 24-hour emergency-service operator. This is a free call

emergency

Dial 082 911 to connect to Netcare 911’s 24-hour operations centre, or 084 124 for ER24. Both are private emergency medical services. The telephone code is +27 11, or 011 from a landline.

Mental Benefits

Young swimmers benefit from swimming in many ways. Gaining competence in a demanding sport such as swimming builds confidence.
Because swimming is an individual sport that takes place in a group or team atmosphere, kids learn about competition and cooperation at the same time. Building a positive self-image and the discipline to control negative thoughts are skills coaches help foster.
Once a has in the water, they enjoy the feeling of freedom and release of moving fast in the weightless environment. Being in the water just feels good.
EnGedi Aquatics

As any adult can attest, getting older means understanding gravity better. means being able to exercise free from the heaviness that seems to accompany age.
On deck, the extra 4kg put on over a few years literally weigh heavily on people. Jumping in the pool relieves aching ankles or overburdened joints. Because swimming is a non-weight bearing exercise, it is ideal for heavier people. The water supports them and helps keep them from overheating while they exercise.

EnGedi Aquatics

Does make you taller? Just look at Michael Phelps. While it isn't going to add height where the genetics and potential aren't there, swimming has the ability to build longer, leaner muscles. It's those "swimmer's muscles"combined with resistance training and cardio that help boost your metabolism to keep those calories burning longer. Swimming can also put your body through a range of movements, helping your muscles stay nice and long and .

EnGedi Aquatics

Swimming is good , in part because it is fun.
It provides a potentially excellent workout, yet it does not feel as grueling as sweating away on a stationary bicycle or pounding the pavement on a hot summer day.

attest to the joyous feeling of being buoyant in deep water, particularly outdoors, with blue skies above and scenery to distract the mind. The aqueous environment also serves to isolate and insulate the swimmer. Lap swimmers find the freedom to think about their day or the problems they face.

EnGedi Aquatics