0-12 months:
Three quarters of drowning deaths in this age group occur around the home. Bath time in particular is one of the highest dangers in this age group. A lack of constant active adult supervision is the main cause. Reduce the risk:
12-36 months: More than 50% of drowning deaths in this age group occur in home swimming pools. Often children in this age group gain access to home pools without an adult realising. Reduce the risk:
3-5 years: More than 50% of drowning deaths in this age group occur in home swimming pools, with boys twice as likely to drown than girls. Reduce the risk:
6-10 years: Almost three quarters of children who drown in this age group are boys. The highest number of drowning deaths occur at inland waterways such as rivers and lakes. In this age group, children may overestimate their own ability. Reduce the risk:
11-16 years: In this lifestage, inland waterways pose the highest risk of drowning, with half of drowning deaths occurring in these locations. More than two thirds of these drownings are males. This lifestage sees teenagers participating in risk taking behaviour, with less supervision. Reduce the risk:
Whatever the lifestage, active adult supervision is a critical component to reducing drowning risks. For more information, visit the Royal Life Saving Society Australia Author: Josephine Moss (Swim School Coordinator)
It is very common for students to perfect one part of the skill (the kick for example) but then as they are concentrating on learning another dimension (such as turning the head correctly to breathe), often the ‘perfected’ part of the skill suddenly looks ‘worse’. This is a very normal part of the learning process, and does not signify regression. With time and practice, these skills will solidify and all parts of the skill set will begin to work together seamlessly.
If you are concerned with how your child is progressing in our program, we invite you to speak with our Supervisors (in the red shirts) at any time. We are more than happy to let you know how your child is swimming, discuss your concerns, and explain what you should expect next. Myth: “I can’t start bringing my child to lessons yet because they are too scared” Fact: You won’t know until you have tried! We often hear of parents who have delayed starting lessons because their children are too scared, or not showing an interest. However, rarely is this fear alleviated by avoiding swimming lessons. Instead, getting children into lessons which are fun, make them feel safe, and prove to be a positive experience will begin to override these fears. One of our most received concerns is “they will scream the house down!” but we can assure you that for every time we have heard that, there are very few occasions where this has actually transpired. And for those children who are upset, it doesn’t phase us! Our Supervisors love to help students settle in to their classes, and are experts at replacing tears with smiles, as well as ensuring that the rest of the class is not disadvantaged. If you are still unsure, we recommend booking in to a casual class – just one class with no further commitments. Give it a try and you may be surprised! Author: Josephine Moss (Swim School Coordinator) |
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