That’s what Eva yells every time she sees me get out her bathing suite because she knows what is coming.  Here is my little fishy in action this past weekend.  I love the ones where she is mid air.
Can you see what a little performer she is?

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I know it’s a little late in the season but I just cannot talk enough about this.  Drowning is 100% preventable and that’s why I think it is such an important topic.

Apparently I’m not the only one who thinks so because I received two emails last week about water safety.

I also had a wake up call recently when someone close to me relayed a story about a child I know that was found in the bottom of the pool.  Luckily and by the grace of God the child is okay but I’m sure it was a big scare for the family.  I know that I NEVER want to be in that position.

We recently enrolled Eva in swim lessons in the city next to us and it was only $15 for 2 weeks, four days a week, so 8 lessons total.  After that class I just continued getting in the water with her almost every day and practicing what we learned.  She is now swimming like a champ. She holds her breath and swims under water, and can even kick herself up for air.  I am also working with her on water safety.  I always make her wait until I am fully in the pool before she can get in, I teach her to swim to the wall or the step and then how to get out from there.  We have a pool gate, our side yard gates are locked, and we have an extra deadbolt on our back door that she can’t unlock.  None of this replaces supervision though.

My favorite safety tip that I read recently is to always have a phone nearby when you are swimming so that you can quickly call 911 if needed.  That’s something I just never would have thought about.

The first email I received is for all of you here in the Phoenix Area.  Fulton Homes and 98.7 The Peak have a water safety program and they are conducting CPR classes around the valley.  You can get more information here and here.

2 Seconds is Too Long”
Drowning Prevention Tips…

SUPERVISION

• Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near any body of water, even for a second.
• Don’t rely solely on barriers, such as fences or walls. There is no substitute for constant supervision.
• Keep toys, tricycles, and other children’s playthings out of the water and away from the pool or spa.
• Don’t consider your children to be “drown-proof” because you enrolled them in swimming or “water-proofing” classes.
• Don’t relay on inflatable devices to keep your child afloat. These are not substitutes for adult supervision.

BARRIERS

• Make sure your pool or spa has a fence, wall, or safety cover that guards against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.
• Make sure doors leading to the pool or spa area are self-closing and self-latching, or are equipped with exit alarms and are never propped open.
• Gates should have self-closing, self-latching mechanisms. Latches should be out of reach of young children and kept in proper working order.
• Make sure the safety cover is always closed when pool or spa is not in use.
• Always drain standing (surface) water from the pool cover. Remember that even a few inches of water can be hazardous, especially to young children.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

• Learn how to administer lifesaving techniques to children, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
• Install a phone, or keep a cordless phone, in the pool or spa area.
• Post the emergency medical services phone number (i.e. 911) in an easy-to-see place near the pool or spa, and make sure that everyone learns the number(s).

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A CHILD IN TROUBLE IN A POOL

1. Yell for help and get the child out of the pool.
2. Call 911 immediately for medical assistance.
3. Begin CPR, if you’re trained.
4. If you’re not trained in CPR, follow telephone instructions from the Fire Department until the arrive to help you.

HOW TO PREVENT DROWNING

1. Make sure pools are secured.
2. Get CPR Certified! Log on to the Red Cross Website or call (602)336-6490.
3. Keep items that can be used for climbing (tables, chairs, ladders) away from fences.
4. Don’t allow children to play in pool areas. Keep toys out of the area.
5. Mount flotation devices designed for lifesaving near the pool. Many floatation toys are thought to be lifesavers. They are not, they’re only toys and should be used only as toys.
6. Post the 911 emergency phone number on your phones. Have a phone near the pool area. Don’t leave children unattended while talking on the phone.
7. Never allow children to be alone near a pool. Always make sure an adult is present.

The next email I received is a list of water safety tips from Child Rearing Expert Bette Holtzman.  I completely agree with the following list when it talks about swimming being such a great activity for parents and children to do together.  Since playing with toys is not my favorite thing to do I’m always looking for fun things to do with Eva that we both enjoy.

Water Safety Tips

1. Water safety starts with supervision! Supervision is the number one thing we need to do as parents to help keep our children safe.  They cannot be left in the kiddie pool the same way they are placed in front of TV.  Children near water require constant adult supervision (an 8-year-old sibling is not old enough as they can become distracted easily).  Floaties and water wings are not an alternative to supervision, as they will not prevent a child from drowning.  Parents should exercise touch/reach supervision, which means they are always within an arm’s length of the child.  Remember, supervision is not a chore – it is quality time with your child!
2. Older children need supervision too. Water safety is so important, but often parents take it for granted with their older children.  Pay attention to older children.  They love to have mom and dad watch them do cool things in the water.  Encourage physical activity, doing different things, and give positive feedback.  Enjoy watching them have a great time!
3. Practice water safety inside and out. Children can drown in very little water, very quickly.  While it may be more apparent to take safety precaution when at the pool or the beach, parents should practice safety near any place with water both inside and out: tub, toilet, fish pond, buckets of water, coolers, fountains, hot tubs, and even big puddles.

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