VERY IMPORTANT PLEASE READ: When there is a body of water near you, no matter how insignificant you may think that body of water may be, never take your eyes off your child or the person you are looking after. Drowning is a silent killer and occurs in pools, dams, lakes, rivers, oceans, bathtubs, buckets, washing machines, fishponds, tree stump holes, canals and irrigation ditches. Any body of water, no matter how small, can be fatal to toddlers, children, teenagers, and adults. Be vigilant, alert and responsive in and out of the water. 100% of toddler drownings could be avoided by never taking your eyes off your child and by remaining with arms length of them at all times. When there is water around no matter how small or insignificant you think that body of water may be. Remember a toddler can drown in a bucket.
IMPORTANT LINK: www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-24816762.html  

Overview

We spend the first forty weeks of our lives living in a fluid environment. At birth we are familiar with the weightless feeling of being in that environment and having our eyes, nose, ears and mouth immersed in a fluid. In other words we are born with the two basic skills we need to develop before we can learn to swim; BALANCE and BREATH CONTROL. Of course within a few moments of being born we have the potential to drown. Even though we may float on or near the surface of the water a new born baby/toddler/young child does not have the skills to hold the water with their hands and feet well enough to get their mouth out of the water and take a breath. Sometime between when we are born and when we get back into that water environment some children develop a fear of the water. Set out below are a few hints that may help you prepare your child for their return to that water environment when they start formal swimming lessons.

Handy hints

• At the beginning of every bath/shower time wet your hand and then stoke your baby's/child's hair until it is entirely wet. This will ensure the water flows more easily over your childs eyes, ears, nose and mouth. At first only a few drops of water flowing over their face is enough, especially in their eyes.
• Familiarize your child with the water being in contact with their eyes, ears, nose and mouth by introducing them to small quantities of water over their head so that is runs over their eyes, ears, nose and mouth. 10mm of water in the bottom of a small plastic cup is a good starting point.
• Make water moments as much fun as possible.
• Use a trigger command before pouring the water e.g. 1-2-3 big breath and under (pour the water on the word ‘under’),
• Showers are a good way to expose your child to water running over their face. Small exposure to water over the tops of their heads so the water runs over their eyes, ears, nose and mouth.
• Make sure that if they have a bath, you wet their hair first then pour some small quantities of water over their head before any soap is introduced to the water.
• Be careful when shampooing hair that you avoid shampoo in the eyes. Babies/toddlers associate water and stinging eyes.
• Be mindful of cold water in home pools. Allow time for your child’s body temperature to adjust to the pool temperature.
• If you are in swimming lessons make swim time outside lessons fun.
• Be positive in your encouragement.
• Wet sun suits can lower your child’s body temperature so be aware of this during the cooler months.
• Warm clothes, especially headwear is essential after lesson wear in the cooler weather.
• Make sure you dry out the outer ear, particularly during hot, humid weather. Consult your doctor or pharmacist as to a suitable product you can use.
• For more details on how to make sure your child is relaxed and confident in the water go to the FIND US link on this page and contact the swim school.

DISCLAIMER: Shapland Swim Schools take no responsibility for any irresponsible acts while performing the above activities. Unreasonable amounts of water over a childs head can cause trauma and common sense needs to be used at all times.

What to look for in a Swim School

• Swim Australia approved centre www.swimaustralia.org.au
• Low pupil to teacher ratios
• Water temperature of 32 degrees Celsius
• Toilets and change rooms within a few meters of the pool
• Heated dressing rooms
• Friendly, experienced and caring teachers
• A lesson make up system
• A well organized reception and booking system
• Clean, clear, warm water
• A building free of irritating odours (chorine)
• A separate viewing room for parents and siblings
• Minimum movement and noise in the pool area (where the lesson is taking place)
• Protection from the sun
• Basic survival skills for pupils, toddlers and pre-schoolers are taught
• Clean pool deck, toilets and change rooms
• Go and watch the lessons before you enrol.

Shapland Swim School Green Credentials

Always Watching Every Drop – All members of the Shaplands Swim School community have been affected by Queensland’s water restrictions. We want to assure you we’re doing our bit too.

All Shapland Swim Schools have low water usage and here’s how:

• The small volume of water in our pools: We use only 80,000 litres compared to:

• Where possible we make the most of rainwater. In our swim schools without rain water tanks we can divert rain water directly into our pools. In the swim schools with rain water tanks, we collect this natural resource from all roof areas and use it to flush our toilets, top up the pool or on the landscaping.
• When not in use the pool is covered with a thremal blanket to reduce evaporation and lock in heat.
• Solar energy helps heat the pool’s water. The structure over the pool is specifically designed to collect solar energy and reduce the need for gas and electricity to keep the water warm.
• All showers are fitted with low flow shower roses.
• We recycle water where possible. Water used in backwashing is stored for later use on landscaping.
• All but two of our swim schools use diatomaceous earth filters so we do not backwash our filters in the traditional manner. The amount of water used to backwash the pool water filter depends on the size of the water pump which circulates the water. Council pools and 25m indoor pools can take up to 50,000li to backwash the filter. Instead of backwashing (reversing the water flow) we strip down out filters and hose them clean using a mere 75li.

Web Links

• Swim Australia
• Queensland Swim Association
• AUSTSWIM

Downloads

• Breathing
• Care for your child’s ears
• Face in and Eyes open under the water
• First time at a lesson
• Floating
• Goggles
• Moving through the water
• Pushing your child too hard
• Swimming through winter
• When can I expect my child to start doing big strokes
• When do I finish lessons
• State Surf Titles 2008
• Joan Godsall Interview