May 19, 2017 at 4:33 p.m.
May is Water Safety Month: Tips to keep kids safe
May is Water Safety Month: Tips to keep kids safe
Before letting your children hit the water this summer, remember these few tips from the YMCA of the Northwoods to ensure it's an enjoyable and safe experience.
1. Never swim alone. Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty.
2. Supervise your children whenever they're in water. Whether its bath time or taking a dip in a pool or lake, make sure your children are within arm's reach of you at all time.
3. Don't engage in breath holding activities. Children shouldn't hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can cause drowning and has several other severe physical side-effects.
4. Wear a Life Jacket: Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
5. Don't jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. If a child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try to save them. Even if a child is a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling them underwater with them. The Y's swim lesson instructors teach the "reach, throw, don't go" concept of using a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety. By using this technique children can help their friend without compromising their own safety.
6. Enroll your children in water safety or swim lessons. Just like teaching your children to look both ways before they cross the street, having them participate in formal water safety lessons teaches them an important life skill. The Y's swim lessons teach children fundamental water safety skills and what to do if they find themselves in water unexpectedly.
"Learning how to swim also has multiple benefits beyond the ability to enjoy water safely," according to a Y press release. "It helps children strive for physical achievement, promotes healthy living and builds their confidence."
To learn more about the Y's swim programs, contact the Y at 715-362-9622 or visit www.ymcaofthenorthwoods.org.
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