Don’t be afraid to let kids go underwater with the help of Goldfish Swim School

The Ohio Goldfish Swim Schools wants to make sure that your children are safe this summer and are prepared for all types of water activities. From swimming in local pools to swimming in lakes, creeks, rivers or even in the local water parks. Goldfish Swim School begins at an early age to help teach our children about the importance of learning the correct way to swim and about water safety. It’s a lesson children take with them through all stages of life.

Recently, Ohio State University was stricken by the news of one of their key soccer players had drown in a nearby lake while swimming with teammates. According to the Associated Press on June 26, 2016, “Nineteen-year-old Fikayo Idowu died while swimming at a lake outside of Columbus. He was from Madison, Mississippi, and had been on the Ohio State soccer team since 2014.” Idowu was majoring in health and rehabilitation sciences and was planning on attending medical school.

“The drowning happened at Apple Valley Lake in Knox County, about 40 miles northeast of the campus,” Ohio State soccer coach John Bluem said. “He was a two-time Ohio State scholar-athlete award winner.”

The school did not indicate if Idowu had ever received official swimming lessons or the level of swimming ability he had. But, no parent should ever have to worry about their child drowning in such a way. No parent should ever worry about their child going underwater and not resurfacing. What a nightmare!

The Goldfish Swim School is a tool available to children of all ages and many disabilities to help teach them safety tips to hopefully keep stories like Idowu’s from surfacing again. Although, each summer, the news is unfortunately riddled with stories of water related deaths. Although some tragic, some are avoidable. (Not to say that Idowu’s was or not.)

So what does drowning look like? What are the warning signs?

● It happens quickly. A child can drown in as little as one inch of water and in as little time

as 20 seconds.

● Often, adults are around when a child is drowning but they are unaware of what is

happening.

● Drowning is almost always a deceptively quiet event. The waving, splashing, and

yelling that is seen on television is rarely the case- no screaming kid with flailing arms!

Constant supervision is imperative. If a child is taking on water, they WILL NOT

be able to shout out for help.

What do families need to know when it comes to being safer around the water? How can adults ensure safety around the water?

● Any time kids are around water, designate a “water watcher” . It should be someone that will avoid cell phone use, conversations, magazines and anything else that might be a distraction. The children should be watched EVERY SINGLE SECOND. Many children who drown are supervised.

● Realize that floaties, noodles and plastic inner tubes DO NOT protect against drowning.

They’re created as water toys, not life-saving devices. Life jackets should be

designated as U.S. Coast Guard-approved.

● Get swim lessons for yourself or any other caregiver who cannot swim or is afraid of

water.

● The American Red Cross says that the number one thing that parents can do to keep

kids safer around water is to enroll them in swim lessons. Swimming is an essential life-

saving skill with numerous physical, mental and intellectual benefits.

Educate kids about water safety?

● Goldfish Swim School has a Water Safety Program that brings local schools,day

care centers and community groups to educate kids and families about some water safety

basics. This is a FREE, engaging program available to interested community organizations that teach kids the basics of water safety.