| We have been taking swim lessons with the British Swim School for about 3 months. My son Abel is so close to meeting all of the Starfish level requirements and soon he will advance to the next level. One thing I really love about the British Swim School is their commitment to water safety. The first thing your child learns at the British Swim School is skills to keep them safe around water. Abel has been learning how to safely enter and exit the pool, float on his back and to be comfortable with water in his face and ears (this helps prevent panic if he were to go under water). I’m very grateful for the emphasis on theses skills, especially with pool season coming up. But even with all of the lessons and emphasis on water safety I, as a parent, still need to be vigilant about keeping my children safe around the water. |  |
May is Water Safety Month and the British Swim School would like to remind parents of water safety tips that will help keep children safe:
•Teach children water and swimming skills as early as possible
•Always brief babysitters on water safety, emphasizing the need for constant supervision.
•Appoint a designated Water Watcher to monitor children during social gatherings near pools.
•Equip doors and windows that exit to a pool area with alarms.
•Install a poolside phone, preferably a cordless model, with emergency numbers programmed into speed dial.
•Post CPR instructions and learn the procedures and keep a first aid kit at poolside
•Keep rescue equipment poolside.
•Install four-sided isolation fencing, at least five feet high, equipped with self-closing and self-latching gates, that completely surrounds the pool and prevents direct access from the house and yard.
•Maintain constant visual contact with children in a pool or pool area. If a child is missing, check the pool first.
•Don’t use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
•Never allow young children in a pool without an adult.
•Don’t leave objects such as toys that might attract a child in the pool and pool area.
•Never prop the gate to a pool area open.
•Don’t rely on swimming lessons, life preservers or other equipment to make a child “water safe.”
•Never assume someone else is watching a child in a pool area.
•Don’t leave chairs or other items of furniture where a child could use them to climb into a fenced pool area.
Take the Safe Swimmer Pledge
Encourage children to take the Safe Swimmer pledge, it’s a great way to reinforce water safety.
Click the picture below to download and print your own pledge!
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 | About the British Swim School British Swim School CEO, Rita Goldberg founded British Swim School in 1981. The British Swim School emphasizes teaching water safety survival skills to children as young as three months old. Lessons are available for babies, children and adults. |
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