Swimming Pools...

[kemclaughlin]

Last summer I was sitting on a lounge watching my children swim.  I was not dozing, I was keeping a good eye on them.  Every precaution was taken to ensure their safety.  The swimming pool has a five foot fence surrounding it that the children cannot open.  The sliding glass doors have locks 6.5 feet high that lead to the backyard before you even get to the fence around the swimming pool.  Anyway, my children started yelling and as I focused on what they were saying, I realized I could not see my daughter.  SHE HAD FALLEN IN WHILE I WAS WATCHING AND I HAD NOT EVEN SEEN HER!  I went in after her and pulled her out and she was fine.  She had not been in more that a few seconds and holding their breath is instinctive.  The point of this is that drownings can happen to anyone anywhere no matter how careful you are and the only way to be truly vigilant is to never ever take your eyes off the kids and to make everyone a safety monitor. 

Everytime I hear yet another story of a baby drowning in the swimming pool, I cry.  I hear all the other parents criticising, yet I don't think they realized just how quickly it happens.  In this case, the experts are right.  Swimming pool safety should NEVER be taken lightly.  You can never be careful enough to substitue for knowing where your kids are. 

That being said.. Yes I do know how to swim.  I have been swimming since I was two years old.  I will be making sure my kids can swim and they will be taking lessons to make sure they are strong swimmers.  This is not enough to ensure safety either, and I know that, but it is a valuable skill.  I believe that not knowing how to swim is detrimental to children.  My 8 year old and my 4 year old already swim and my daughter will be two on June 1 and so she is ready for swimming now too.  It might be another year or two, but she will be learning.  I was surprised when I found out that there are still people who don't know how or don't swim well.  I grew up in Southern California and just assumed everyone could swim.  I can remember swimming in the ocean as a very young child. 

[miss372]

Mar. 12, 2009 at 1:22 PM

I had the same thing happen to me with my daughter as well! it does happen fast and it was so scary, I am planning on getting my kids swim lessons at the ymca

[squish]

Mar. 13, 2009 at 7:20 PM

Great post!! I voted popular.

My mom is a swim teacher, and the main thing she stresses to parents is that they need to be with their child at all times.  A lot of times parents mistakenly assume that just because their child can swim they are out of danger of drowning. That is absolutely not true.

[kemclaughlin]

Mar. 14, 2009 at 7:33 PM

I agree that learning to swim does not make them pool safe.  It helps, but no one, even an adult, can swim if they knock themselves unconsious on the way in the pool, and children get tired and then they can't swim anymore. 

(Original Poster)