Posted on May 18th, 2010
When the days get longer and hotter and the kids get out of school, it is time for summer fun. But it’s important for Mom and Dad to instill a little safety into the summer fun so the kiddos can rule the days. We caught up with Phil Pektas, owner and instructor for Big Fish Swim School and asked him about his top summer fun safety tips. These aren’t your ordinary safety tips – use a pool fence, wear sunscreen, etc – these are unique tips that made us go ummmm…
1) If your little explorer should wander off at the water park, how would you describe your bathing-suit-clad kid? “Yea high, bathing suit, brown hair …” could describe a lot of kids. So how do you effectively describe your kid? Take a picture. When you arrive at the park that day snap a camera phone pic of your kiddos in what they are wearing. Then keep your phone close by. In case of an emergency, you can whip it out and show the lifeguard exactly who’s missing.
2) Ask a group of kids how to dial the police and they probably all know to dial 911. But have you ever stopped to think about how your kids will dial 911? Not all cell phones are created equal; placing a call on one cell phone isn’t the same on another. Make sure your little ones know how to place a call on Mom and Dad’s phones. (While we’re on the subject, make sure your kids know what to say. Great, they called 911, now what do they tell the operator if there is an emergency and there is no one there to guide them?)
3) Having a party? Even if it isn’t a pool party, if the party will be hosted around a large body of water (pool, lake, etc.) hire a lifeguard. Often those who find themselves in a bad situation in water are the ones who had no intention of being in the water in the first place. It only takes a second for something tragic to occur, so hire someone to watch the water while the guests enjoy the party. (To find a lifeguard for your next party, contact Big Fish Swim School for lifeguard references.)
4) Empower your kids with reach assists. In the event of a pool emergency, make sure your kids know how to use ordinary objects around your pool to help save a life. The pool brush, the foam noodle, the super soaker can all be used to help a child reach further into the pool to assist someone in trouble. Yes, that pool toy may say, “This toy is not intended to be used as a flotation device,” but tossing it to someone struggling in the water might just be the thing to save a life. Practice, practice, practice. Telling a kid is never as good as showing, so practice showing your kids how to use things they find around the pool as reach assists. Need a teaching aid, download this coloring page to help your kids recognize items that can be used a reach assists. (Note - coloring page is a PDF.)
If you’re looking for more education and safety measures for your little swimmers this summer, you can contact Phil at Big Fish Swim School at www.bigfishswimschool.com. Here’s to a fun and safe summer Central Florida.
Answer key: The objects that can be used to help save Andy (in the coloring download) are: Nailz (the shark), the rescue tube attached to the lifeguard stand, the long pole on the wall (called a Sheppard’s crook), the life preserver, the beach ball and the noodle. The only things that can’t be used are the skates and the bowling ball.
