When it comes to keeping your child safe this summer, there are few things that are more impactful than practicing swimming and water safety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 5-14.
Infants are most likely to drown inside the home, such as in a bathtub, while children aged 1-4 are most likely to drown in pools or nearby natural bodies of water, such as lakes, ponds and canals.
The American Red Cross aims to reduce drowning deaths by providing educational programs and giving advice for safety protocols.
Swimming classes
Molly Reiter, 16, of Crystal City and Ella Moser, 18, of Festus are both Red Cross-certified lifeguards who work at the Crystal City Pool.
Moser has been a lifeguard for three years and Reiter for two. Both are teaching swimming classes for the first time this summer.
Reiter said swim lessons at the pool are based on Red Cross guidelines.
Red Cross swimming classes help swimmers build confidence, develop safe habits around water, improve techniques and become stronger, safer swimmers at any age.
Reiter said it’s a good idea to start swimming classes early, such as taking a parent and child class where guardians of children up to 3 years of age actively participate in the child’s swim lessons. This helps build the child’s comfort in the water and teaches guardians how to practice skills with the children between classes.
“If they pass, then the next summer take the level up,” Reiter said.
The Crystal City Pool offers classes at many different levels, including the parent and child classes, preschool aquatics for children aged 4-5, beginner classes for ages 6-7 and intermediate classes for ages 8 and up. Swim classes and private lessons also are offered in non-summer months at indoor pool facilities, such as the Jefferson County YMCA.
The Red Cross cautions to not expect that students will learn to swim in one set of lessons, or even in one season. Instead, the Red Cross recommends enrolling family members in lessons throughout multiple swimming seasons to ensure they can swim well and handle themselves in most aquatic situations.
One thing Moser cautioned parents about is the importance of matching their child with classes at the appropriate skill level. She said if a child is put in a class above his or her correct range, it can be hard for the child to gain skills or retain the knowledge to succeed.
“Go easy on yourself and your kid,” Moser said. “It’s fine if they retake the same class again next year. Just get them into the class, let them gain experience and then retake it again next year if they need to.
“If you know your kid might not be ready for a higher level, let them retake the class,” she said.
Reiter and Moser said some children gain skills more easily in a private lesson setting rather than group classes, which can be too distracting for some children.
Morgan Klousia, 35, of Crystal City, is having all three of her children take swimming lessons this year at the Crystal City Pool. Hadley, 5, is taking preschool aquatics while twins Everett and Noah, age 2, are taking the parent and child learn-to-swim class.
Klousia said she was excited to help her children gain important skills, especially her eldest child.
“I want Hadley to know how to swim. I want her to know about pool safety, to learn the basic skills of swimming. She had done a baby class, but we’re at the pool almost every day, so we’re wanting her to get way more comfortable learning how to use actual techniques in swimming.”
Alex Brewer, 32, of Hillsboro took swimming classes at the Crystal City Pool as a child, so when it was time for her oldest child, James, 4, to learn how to swim, the choice of where to go was a no-brainer.
“I took swim lessons here when I was little,” Brewer said. “I think mom probably took swim lessons here growing up, too. But I’ve also heard great things about the program.”
Brewer said her family spends a lot of time on a family lake on a pontoon boat, so she wants her children to be comfortable in the water and to know what to do if something goes wrong.
Brewer said James has been practicing his swimming strokes from class at home outside of the water as well.
“We don’t have a pool, but he actually tries floating in the bathtub on his back.”
Brewer said she likes the swim class schedule of an hour each weekday morning for two weeks.
“I like the consistency of it being every day versus some other classes that are once a week. This is nice because he’s ready to go every day.”
Water safety rules
The Red Cross emphasizes water safety rules including:
■ Never swim alone. Always use the buddy system.
■ Always swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard and obey all posted rules and signs.
■ Enter the water feet first unless the area is specifically marked for diving.
■ Do not rely on water wings, swim rings, inflatable toys and other items designed for water recreation as lifesaving devices. These devices can suddenly shift position, lose air or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.
■ Inexperienced swimmers and everyone participating in boating should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
■ Do not consume alcohol when swimming, diving or boating because it impairs judgment, balance and the body’s ability to stay warm.
■ The Red Cross also emphasizes avoiding the “Dangerous Too’s.” Do not swim when you are too tired, too cold, too far from safety, have had too much sun or are engaging in too much strenuous activity.
A few last tips
If you see someone who needs to be saved, grab a flotation device to hand or throw to them rather than attempting to jump in and pull them to safety because people who are struggling can often panic and drag other swimmers down with them, Moser said.
“Reach or throw, don’t go,” Moser said. “If they are too far away, bring that object with you and let them have it. We always say if you can swim, let them have it, but don’t let them grab onto you.”
Reiter said keeping a close eye on children while swimming is essential because an emergency situation can happen quickly.
“Kids don’t realize how quickly they get tired, and then they will stop swimming, and they freak out,” Reiter said. “We always tell them, ‘Float on your back if you ever need a break or if you can’t swim.’”
Reiter said a responsible adult should be the designated “water watcher” who maintains constant visual contact and stays within arm’s reach of inexperienced swimmers, even if a lifeguard is present. She said the water watcher should be changed every half-hour.
“Thirty minutes is the maximum time because after 30 minutes you might start zoning out. You need a little bit of a break to go in and drink some water, especially with how hot it’s been. The sun can really drain you.”
And if you hear thunder or see lightning, Reiter said, get out of the water immediately.
“That’s really serious. If we hear even a little bit of thunder, we have to get out. People get mad but we don’t have a choice. We’d rather be safe than sorry.”