Preparing for Summer – Swim Safe in Michigan

Do you need Reasons to choose swim lessons for a child of any age? Safety first.

Michigan is renowned for its lakes. As someone living in the Great Lake state, it is important to ensure that you are and stay aware of safety concerns that may be easily overlooked. That concern is water safety. Not talking about the water in Flint: That’s another issue! I’m talking about swimming, wading, fishing, canoeing… all those “Fun” things to do in the water.

While we are all busy, I’m hearing again and again so many “near misses” with kids at the lake, visiting friends who have pools and more and it really scares me! When we lived in Arizona, so many friends had pools and not being a super strong swimmer myself, I worry about swimming lessons. I enrolled my daughter and son when they were 1 and 3, but my son never took to lessons, so we had to avoid many situations.

The importance of knowing how to swim

Now, my son is 6 and it is important for his safety that he can swim. I need to know that even without his puddle jumper (which became a crutch, unfortunately) that he will be safe around water.

Swim Lessons – When to take them

Swim lessons can begin in infancy. A young infant has a natural reflex which can help them, but it wont’ make them natural swimmers, you need to bring them to lessons. The reflex is called the bradycardic response which causes babies to hold their breath and open their eyes when submerged in water. According to that article (click here for more info https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12022304 ) babies are born with this ability and lose that natural reflex by around 6 months of age. Of course, it is never too late to get started with swim lessons.

Did you know?

• About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.¹ For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.¹
•  (Source: CDC)

For your child’s safety, consider Swim Lessons!