Water Safety Month Series with HopeFloats + Water Safety Resources

May is National Water Safety Month, a national campaign encouraging safety practices in and around the water. According to the CDC and the U.S. Swimming Foundation, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death in young children, but safe water practices and swimming lessons can drastically reduce your risk.

Hope Kurtz joins us for UpNorth Kids first ever Water Safety Series in honor of May’s Water Safety Month. Hope is a certified American Red Cross Certified Lifeguard, Water Safety Instructor, Swim Whisperers Adaptive Swim Instructor, owner of HopeFloats swim school, and water safety advocate.

Part 1 of 3 of our Water Safety Series with Hope Floats. Watch the full video here. Top takeaways below:

Here are 5 ways you can increase safety in and around the water:

1. Instituting family water rules such as:

   -Always ask permission before getting in the water.

   -Never swim alone; ALWAYS have a buddy.

2. Get in!

   -Swimming with your kids and ensuring they are ALWAYS within 3-6 feet of you (depending on the child’s skill level) ensures much more safety than if you were dry on a blanket or lounge chair. 

3. Appoint a Rotating Water Guardian

   -Typically, in the Traverse City area, there are no lifeguards stationed at beaches. Therefore, any time kids are around water, designate a ‘water guardian’ who will provide CONSTANT AND UNDIVIDED supervision any time children have access to the water. 

   -Avoid cell phones, conversations, cocktails and anything else that might distract the adult from watching the children EVERY SINGLE SECOND. Drowning only takes SECONDS.

4. Wear proper lifejackets if you can’t swim. 

   -Life jackets should be U.S. Coast Guard approved. Remember that teenagers and older kids may feel confident in the water, but they are still at risk.

5. Take swimming lessons 

   -The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now recommends swim lessons starting at age one to keep kids safe – it’s important to get kids familiar in and around pools and water from an early age. 

Part 2 of 3 of our Water Safety Series with Hope Floats - coming soon
More takeaways and resources from Hope:

•  Choose brightly colored swimsuits, and avoid BLUE - the color can cause an extra layer of camouflage because of the reflected color of the water. 

• Make sure there are multiple layers of defense around water sources.  A fence or a gate is obvious, but safety pool covers, jacuzzi cover locks, and ensure doors out to the pool have multiple locks and a high deadbolt lock out of a child’s reach. 

•  Kids swimming in jacuzzis or hot tubs create many risks. Medical recommendations are 5 min max @ 104 degree; 15 min max @ 98 degrees. Children can’t regulate their body temperature as well as adults, and this exposure causes major dehydration and the shifts their core body temperature to unsafe levels.

• The water safety tips parents need to know this summer - Experts talk swim lessons, drowning risks and puddle jumpers

• Hot Tub Safety

• Member/Partner Advocacy Campaign: No Floaties Campaign
  

Part 3 of 3 of our Water Safety Series with Hope Floats - coming soon

Additional Resources:

• Longfellow's WHALE Tales from the American Red Cross
  These short, educational videos teach children everything from why it’s important to swim in pairs to how too much sun is no fun.

• Splash Zone Safety Coloring Book - free!

• Take the Water Safety Month Safe Swimmer’s Pledge

• Learn more about local swim lessons from Hope Floats

• Free water safety brochures and booklets from the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance https://www.phta.org/safety/public-safety/water-safety-brochures/