Summer Swimming Safety
By: Ginger | May 22, 2009 | Category: Home and Family
One summer I went to the swimming pool with my much older cousins and their friends. At the time, I was taking swimming lessons and I really liked playing around in water. I was wearing a one-piece swimsuit with a little skirt and feeling quite cool hanging out with the older kids.
I was having fun until someone decided it would be funny to dunk me. The first time, no problem. I came back up and laughed it off, but then it turned into a dunking “free-for-all” with all of the kids piling onto each other. I went down again, but suddenly big kids were being dunked and falling on top of me.
A guy stepped on my frilly swimsuit skirt and it pinned me to the bottom of the pool. I tried to free myself, but kids kept falling or stepping on me. I don't recall if I saw my brief eight years of life flash before my eyes, but I was definitely freaking out with panic. In my flailing to free myself, I whacked the guy in the privates and he shifted his weight.
I was freed! I came up to the surface coughing up water and I barfed up my lunch in the pool. Note: When it comes to clearing people out of a pool, lunchtime flotsam and jetsam in the pool comes in a close second to a Baby Ruth candy bar (remember Caddyshack?)
I came away from that experience with 2 things: a pretty strong fear/discomfort with swimming/water; and the fascinating knowledge that partially digested cheese doodles and a baloney sandwich with mayonnaise turns neon green when it contacts chlorine.
I was in my 30's when I finally tackled and overcame my water fear. I forced myself to take a water aerobics class, retaught myself to swim, and eventually became a scuba-diver. The barf memory? I live with it daily. Hey, what doesn't kill you... makes you stronger.
So, you are probably wondering where I am going with all of this. Well, Memorial Day is on Monday and in many places it is traditional to reopen pools this weekend. Before you turn your little water-rats loose at the pools, lakes, or oceans, review one of these safety guides with them:
- FCIC Water Safety for Swimmers
- Medlineplus – Water Safety
- Water Safety Fun Book
- Water Safety Quiz
- Water Safety Tips Brochure
- Water Safety Checklist
One final tip not mentioned in any of these guides, but it goes without saying, tell your kids, "Don't pee in the pool!" Have a safe swimming season!
Permalink
| View Comments [3]
| 
E-mail This Entry
| Tags:
ginger
swimming
water_safety
Bookmark and share: 
About social bookmarking
RSS Feeds
E-mail Updates
You always have the most wonderful blogs, definitely my favorite of the Bloggers.
I'd like to take an opportunity though to remind parents to be extra cautious for your kids in the water. a near drowning can result in permanent brain damage even though the child has been revived. Please, keep a close eye on the kids and take a class in rescue breathing. keep the wee ones safe.
Comment Permalink
Glad that you overcame your water fear. I don't fear water but i do fear exams.
Comment Permalink
Glad you overcame your fear...and even went so far as to scuba dive. You are courageous! AYou gave a very important reminder about water safety. We have a pool in our backyard and I don't want any accidents to happen.
Comment Permalink