LAKEWOOD RANCH – In honor of National Water Safety month, one Suncoast swimming school is teaching water safety and drowning prevention tips.
“The number one thing a parent can do to help prevent drowning is to sign their children up for swim lessons, that the most important thing,” said Part-Owner of Goldfish Swimming School, Toby Loukmas.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that kids continue to safely participate in organized drowning prevention classes despite the COVID-19 health crisis, as swim lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88%. Also recommending, children start as young as a year old to learn water safety basics.
“So teaching them at that young age that this can be something that can cause a problem, to respect it and to understand it, you know if you have pool floats, they’re going to be attracted to that and just walk without even thinking so just training them, like I can get to the wall, I can get on my back, I can get out I can keep my head up, just having them understand, it’s a good time, not a toy,” said Swim Instructor, Chelsea Cox.
An important reminder is to teach children to never swim alone, and always have a buddy with them in the water at all times. As well as having a proper floatation device, like a life jacket.
“When you go out to the beach or on a boat, you want to have that life jacket, it is going to help you, it’s going to be an extra layer of support, even if you are a strong swimmer, you never know what that water is going to do, and it’s very unpredictable,” said Cox.
And even if lifeguards are present, it’s important to always designate a water guardian.
“And their main focus is on watching the swimmers in the pool, so very focused, no books, no cellphone no chatting with friends, their focus are the kids in the pool,” said Loukmas.
One parent says it was vital for her five and 2 year old to receive swimming lessons.
“Especially living in Florida, my husband and I wanted to make sure from an early age they had a good fear of the water, respect of the water, had a solid foundation of skills, to be confident in the water and safe in the water,” said Parent of 5 and 2-year old, Jennifer McMahon.
McMahon says both of her daughters now know basic swimming safety rules
“Asking before they get in, they know how to get to the wall, climb out of the water, they’re working on, especially my two year old flipping on her back in case she falls in, and those are the main things, and just being confident swimmers,” said McMahon.
For more on water safety or to sign Goldfish Swim School’s Safer Swimmer Pledge, you can visit, their website here.
