Water Safety Education: A Crucial Part of Swim School Curriculum
Dhwani Shah
October 11, 2024
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7 min read
There are few things better than relaxing by the pool or on the beach by the sea on a hot summer day, splashing around the water and spending time with your loved ones. Swimming is an activity that brings immense joy and numerous health benefits. And while it is also a life-saving skill, the risks associated with water, especially for young children, cannot be underestimated.
There are an estimated 320,000 annual drowning deaths worldwide. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in children aged 1-4 years and 10-14 years. Drowning-related deaths and injuries occur every day in domestic waters (backyard pools, bathtubs) and in open waters (lakes, ponds, oceans), and these incidents do not occur as portrayed on TV or in films. There is little to no splashing, flailing and screaming involved; drowning is silent and quick. Unless you are a trained professional, you may not recognize the signs of drowning or someone in danger. Thus, teaching and learning water safety is indispensable to prevent water-related tragedies.
The role of a swim school in imparting water safety education cannot be undermined. By understanding the fundamentals of water safety and making it a priority, swim schools can create confident swimmers who are aware of potential dangers and equipped to navigate aquatic environments safely.
So let’s dive into the key aspects of water safety, why it’s important, and how swim schools can help students, parents, and caregivers integrate safety into swim lessons.
Water safety refers to the practices, precautions, and behaviors that reduce the risk of drowning, injuries, or accidents in water environments. It involves understanding water conditions, learning swimming skills, and knowing how to respond in emergencies. The goal of water safety education is not only to build strong swimmers but also to develop individuals who respect the potential dangers associated with pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans.
According to a study conducted by America's National Institute of Health, learning to swim reduces the risk of drowning by 88% for 1-4 year olds who take formal swim lessons. The knowledge of swimming and water safety can minimize the risk of accidental drowning and water-related mishaps and can empower individuals to save a life.
Swim schools play a crucial role in providing structured water safety education. By incorporating water safety instruction into the curriculum, swim schools ensure that children not only learn water competence but also how to recognize hazardous situations and react in case of emergencies in aquatic environments, which can significantly reduce the number of accidents that happen around water.
Further, water safety education teaches children to be attentive and patient, follow instructions, conquer fears and in turn, build self-confidence. Group water safety lessons also aid children to strengthen their social skills and build trust and teamwork.
Water competency is the ability to be safe in and around water, and to help others who are in need. It includes:
The water competency sequence is a series of five swimming skills that a person should be able to perform without equipment in any body of water:
This sequence must be an integral part of every swim school curriculum, where children get to hone these skills under the guidance of a well-trained instructor. By assessing water competency, instructors can measure a swimmer’s readiness to handle unexpected, real-world water situations.
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-4. 23% of child drownings happen during a family gathering near a pool. Children are naturally drawn to water, making it crucial for them to understand basic water safety from a young age. Toddlers are curious and almost always on the move, eager to explore new environments, but they obviously don't understand the danger of water. Thus, water safety for the young ones is of the essence. Here are some fundamental water safety rules for kids:
First things first, swimming must only happen when a lifeguard is on duty. Lifeguards are trained to keep an eye on swimmers as well as look out for water and weather conditions and other safety concerns. However, lifeguards have a lot of people to track, so in addition to swimming only with a lifeguard nearby, kids must always swim with a buddy or a partner, whether in a backyard pool or in a nearby lake. The buddy can be a friend or a sibling, essentially someone who is tasked with looking out for you and you for them. Having a swim buddy ensures that there’s someone to provide help or call for help in case of emergency. And besides, it's always fun to swim with a friend!
Entering the water feet first is extremely important to prevent injuries. Open waters are unknown territory, and you might never know what may lie beneath the surface. Entering such waters feet first allows you to feel for any obstacles or debris below the surface that could result in potential injury.
Kids (or even adults, for that matter) are not equipped to estimate the depth of the water, be it in open waters or pools. Diving into shallow waters can result in head, neck and spine injuries, or even paralysis and death. It's essential to follow the right way to enter and exit a pool and dive only in areas that are safe for a head-first entry. Even before diving feet-first, it's crucial to check for jagged rocks or other hazards beneath the water that may be hard to see.
Teaching children to follow instructions about designated areas is paramount to ensuring their safety. Most pools, lakes and beaches have designated times and limits where swimming is allowed, often demarcated by ropes and flags. Swimming outside the defined areas should never be encouraged and a “No Diving” or “No Swimming” sign should never be ignored—the waters may be deeper (or shallower) or more dangerous than abilities allow. Once again (and this cannot be emphasized enough) always swim in the presence of a lifeguard who is familiar with the water, the currents and how they may change.
If a child sees their friend drowning or in a hazardous water-related situation, they might be compelled to jump in to help, well without knowing how to rescue their friend. This could put both people involved in danger of drowning and/or injury. Teach kids instead to look for and throw a long object, like a stick or a rope, towards the struggling swimmer to cling on to for safety and immediately look for an adult to help. In this way, they can come to the aid of the victim without putting themselves at risk.
Whether adept at swimming or not, wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device in, on or around water is a must, especially for young children. Life jackets should be worn not just while swimming or at water parks, but also during activities such as boating or fishing, where you might not come into contact with the water directly. The life jacket should fit snugly and comfortably and all straps must be secured properly. It should be brightly colored so that it is easy to spot and should not be removed until return to dry land.
Parents and caregivers play a vital role in ensuring water safety beyond the swim school environment. Children are, well, children, and they’re bound to want to try things they shouldn't. But as a parent and caregiver, it's your duty to ensure that you’re taking the requisite measures to prevent water-related accidents.
Even the best-taught child needs consistent reinforcement and oversight when near water. So in addition to implementing and reinforcing the above mentioned water safety rules for kids, here are a few additional water safety essentials for guardians:
When children are in the water, being vigilant and alert is non-negotiable. A parent or guardian should always be within arm’s reach of a young child when they’re in water, be it in a pool, lake or bathtub. Older children who know how to swim must also always be under watchful supervision, since they might attempt unsafe tricks, flips and breath-holding games in water.
It’s also extremely vital for parents and guardians to learn basic first aid and CPR techniques that could prove handy during accidents and emergencies. Further, make sure you have rescue equipment, a first aid kit and a phone with emergency contacts near the swimming pool or water body. Teach children to invariably seek permission from parents, lifeguards, or swimming instructors before they get into the water.
As a responsible guardian, make sure you check the weather conditions and water temperatures before you or your child hit the water. Read or ask your local lifeguard about how the weather forecast could affect the water currents and temperature, and take this information into account while planning your water adventure. It is not safe to swim in stormy or rainy conditions, especially when accompanied by thunder or lightning. Swimming in cold waters for long periods of time can lower body temperature, all while your body is already losing heat and energy while swimming. If you sense a change in the weather, get out, and get your ward out of the water right away.
Childproofing your pool with a fence is a primary safety measure to prevent young children (and even pets) from entering into and accidentally drowning in a pool, by creating a physical barrier between the pool and the kids. Studies show that fencing can reduce the risk of drowning in a pool by up to three-quarters. By fencing a pool, parents and caregivers can rest assured knowing that their children cannot access the pool unsupervised, allowing them peace of mind.
Childproof fences should completely encircle the pool and isolate it from the house. The fence must come with self–closing and self–latching gates, and comply with the local legal requirements in terms of height, construction and other aspects.
And of course, the best way to safeguard your loved ones from water-related accidents is to enroll children in swimming lessons as early as possible. Formal swimming education can teach kids a great deal about water safety and equip them with the knowledge and skills to be safe in and around water. These children then grow up to be responsible, water-smart adults who can educate those around them about the dangers associated with water and necessary preventive measures.
Moreover, swim schools can host safety workshops where parents and caregivers learn how to respond in emergencies, such as performing CPR or using rescue equipment.
To keep water safety education engaging and fun, swim schools can incorporate water safety activities into lessons. These can also be taught in a classroom or a gym or other land-based areas and can include interactive games that teach safety rules, mock rescue scenarios, and fun challenges to practice floating or treading water.
Here are some examples of fun water safety activities that kids are sure to enjoy:
You could also add a water safety twist to popular games like Bingo and Twister!
Additionally, offering structured water safety courses designed specifically for different age groups ensures that students get comprehensive safety training. Swim schools can also partner with organizations like the Red Cross to provide certified water safety courses for both students and instructors.
Prevention is better than cure. Water safety is not just an add-on to swimming lessons; it’s a critical component that can save lives. By incorporating water safety instruction in the curriculum, swim schools can equip their students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to stay safe in any aquatic environment.
If you're a swim school dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of your learners, try Classcard. Our feature–rich swim school management software allows you to schedule classes, manage bookings, track attendance and payments, communicate easily with students and staff, and much more! We’ll ensure you aren’t ‘drowning’ in loads of administrative work, so you can focus on imparting top-notch swimming lessons.
Let’s work together to make every swim lesson a step toward safety and competence!