Swimming can be an enjoyable leisure activity for kids and some choose to join competitive swimming leagues as well. Watching other people swim looks easy, but swimming is a task that usually takes lessons to learn and many consequences exist if you attempt to do an activity far above your experience level. Safety tips can make swimming a safer and more enjoyable activity for kids of all ages.
Water Temperature
Cold water affects your body much differently than warm water. According to KidsHealth, cold water can shock your body when you jump. That shock will make your blood pressure and heart rate increase. Cold water also can slow your muscles down, which will make it harder to swim back to safety on the edge of a pool or shore of a lake or river.
Swim With a Buddy
Saving a swimmer in danger of drowning can be difficult for people who are not already in the water. Time is the most important factor when someone might drown, so kids should always swim with a buddy, according to Keepkidshealthy.com. Swimming alone may not seem like a dangerous activity, but if an emergency arises and nobody is in the water to save you, you are in danger.
Take Caution
Diving into water can be exciting but also carries potential for head injuries. A swimmer with a head injury will have trouble swimming and will be at risk for drowning. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, you should avoid diving into shallow or murky water because you risk hitting your head on the bottom or on a foreign object. Lakes and rivers will sometimes have felled trees, debris or rocks that can not be seen in murky water.
Fundamentals
Teaching yourself to swim is a risky idea. Sign up for swim lessons through a local recreation department or a swimming team. Proper swim lessons will teach you the strokes for swimming and the methods to tread water and stay afloat.
Attire
Wearing heavy clothing that absorbs water can make it harder to swim, which can expedite fatigue. Carrying extra weight in water requires more strength and kids' muscles can have difficulty pulling those extra pounds. Also, only wear shoes that do not hold water. Heavy shoes that take in water can pull you downward and make it difficult for you to keep your head above water.
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