I hate reading about drownings as a mom. It breaks my heart, and I can't image how many different emotions the parents feel. But one just happened today in Glendale. Story link.
Accidents can happen so quickly. So I thought I'd ask moms to share their advice on kids and pools. I'm going to post an older story we have with tips, especially as kids are starting eye the pool with the weather getting hot.
Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
It is such a tragedy and so
It is such a tragedy and so preventable. Every house with a pool should have a fence or a pool cover. There are programs to help get these things for people who can't afford one. Doors should be locked if napping with a young child. There is just no reasonable excuse for this happening. So many little ones are lost to this kind of negligence every year!
Susan & Neil Hampton have three spectacular children, Alexander, Isabel and David, plus one amazing teenager, Eric. Susan does community outreach for arizonamoms.com.
“In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt.” - Margaret Atwood
The city of Phoenix posts a
The city of Phoenix posts a water safety brochure on it's web site. Here are the 8 tips for preventing drownings:
Use an approved barrier to separate
the pool from the house.
NEVER allow children to be alone near
a pool or any water source. This
includes bathtubs, buckets, toilets,
ponds and canals.
Have life-saving devices near the
pool, such as a hook, pole, or
flotation device.
Keep large objects such as tables,
chairs, tricycles, ladders away from
pool fences.
Post the 9-1-1 number on the phone.
Think about installing a phone near
the pool area.
NEVER leave children unattended in
or around a pool. ALWAYS have a
designated child watcher.
Do not allow children to play in pool
area. Store all toys out of the pool
area.
If you leave the pool area take the
child (children) with you.
Click here for brochure.
It also keeps stats on its Web site. Link to page here.
Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
Here's the link to an
Here's the link to an earlier chat about water safety. http://arizonamoms.com/momtomom/activities/lessons/swimming-amp-water-sa...
Some tips from that post:
1. Check your gates, locks, and pool covers or nets to make sure everything is secure!
2. If you have an alarm, make sure that the alarm is set to chime when a door is opened!
3. Review water rules with all children.
4. Investigate a water safety class or swim lessons. Of course, I believe our program is the best, but any water safety and awareness is a good start!
5. Become CPR certified. Its easy and inexpensive.. visit the red cross or your local YMCA.
Arizona Moms Editor Yvette Armendariz shares stories about raising her kids and tips for busy parents in her Time-starved (goddess) Mom blog. She and her husband are raising two children, ages 8 and 11.
It breaks my heart too to
It breaks my heart too to hear about drownings. Like you said it can happen in a matter of seconds - literally. Although I know drowning can take place in various fashions (i.e. out in the ocean, in a canal, or in our own homes) I have taken my older son (and the baby will go this summer) to swim lessons. I will take them to Infant Swim Resource. It is a survival swim lesson training course. My older son has been going since he was 7 months old and this summer my baby will begin at 7 months also. The older son will be going on his fourth year of lessons in this program and I have to say it is amazing! It teaches the children to float. With the many pools we have in the valley I cant imagine not taking a child to lessons - there are city wide programs that teach swimming. It's available - I just hope parents take advantage of the many resources available that teach/train children with water - it can save their lives!
LisaMommy is a discussion leader in Paradise Valley/Scottsdale area for arizonamoms.com. Her two boys are ages 5 months and 3 years old.
Is there a website for the
Is there a website for the place you take your kids? I'd like to get some prices for swim lessons. My two year old loves the pool and we wanted to get him some lessons this summer. Thanks for sharing!
Shawna
It's not rocket science. If
It's not rocket science. If kids are around water, a sober adult needs to be in charge. There is no (no, no, no, no, no) excuse for a child drowning in the family pool. Close the door. Lock the gate. Do whatever you have to do, but please make it impossible for children to get into your pool unsupervised.
With the abundance of
With the abundance of foreclosures and rentals on the markets, there is NO reason why a parent of a young child should be living in a house with a pool with no fence. The "we cannot afford a fence" is a lame excuse, your childs life should be worth it, not to mention the cities give away many pool fences anyways to low income people. There are also other barriers you can buy that are cheaper. At least out an out of reach door handle on the back door, one that only an adult can turn.
My parents never had a pool fence until 3 years ago when my daughter was born. I told them that unless they got a pool fence, my daughter would NEVER be over and they would not be babysitting. My parents happily obliged and agreed that the $900.00 spent (its a short pool fence, just goes from east to west, blocking entrance to the pool) was well worth it. They will be the first to tell you a toddler can disappear and get into anything at the turn of your back. Better safe than sorry.
DD 3 years old EDD #2 C/S sched for 6/9/08.
For the person that asked
For the person that asked about swim lessons, check your cities park and recreation website. Those are the most affordable lessons around but the classes fill fast. both Chandler and gilbert will start enrolling here for summer classes in the next few days.
DD 3 years old EDD #2 C/S sched for 6/9/08.