Christmas is a time for deadly distractions

Dad and baby swimming in poolChristmas is a time when the potential for drowning and near death by drowning is heightened. Contrary to what we may believe, drowning happens silently.

Over the Christmas break it is so easy to lose concentration because there are so many things that require our attention. It only takes a few minutes of distraction for a toddler to drown.

This Christmas I urge all our clients and their friends to be extra vigilant when around water. That includes bath tubs, washing machines, paddle pools, swimming pools, buckets of water, dams, old tree stump holes and even shallow puddles.

If you aren’t able to supervise children yourself, have a designated responsible person be your eyes and ears when your children are in and around the water. Christmas functions are particularly notorious for drowning or near death by drowning incidents because there are a lot of people causing a lot of distractions. If you are going to a function with a pool and a lot of people, formulate a plan upon arrival to ensure that your children will always be supervised.

The often referenced quote, "the price of freedom is eternal vigilance," is particularly relevant when around water. Perhaps a more specific quote to keep in mind is, "the price of a child's life is constant vigilance."

On behalf of all here at Shapland Swim Schools, I would like to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. And remember, never take your eyes off your child when around a body of water.

Chris Shapland.


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