Take steps today to prepare for water safety all season

This paid piece is sponsored by SafeSplash Swim School.

The increasingly summer-like temperatures likely have you – and your kids – ready for days at the pool or lake. But are they as prepared as they could be to stay safe?

“Water safety is an important topic to discuss with kids of all ages, and often the adults in their life don’t remember to have those conversations,” said Dan Sobocinski, who co-owns the Sioux Falls SafeSplash Swim Schools.

“Kids are impulsive by nature, they’re excited to be near the water and they go at full speed. So it’s critical to talk about water safety not just once, but repeatedly, and then to take additional steps.”

The first step is learning how to swim. Lifeguards might be near the water, but not always, and they’re there to prevent risk by enforcing rules.

“As caregivers, it’s our job to give kids the skills they need to be safe,” Sobocinski said. “As the official swim school provider of USA Swimming, our progressive curriculum was created by a network of Olympic champions and is designed to ensure your child has a lifetime of safe fun in the water ahead.”

SafeSplash swim lessons are held in a warm-water pool, with small classes structured around teaching water safety, skill development, and proper swimming technique for the four fundamental swim strokes.

“Our experienced, passionate, SafeSplash Certified™ instructors have completed extensive classroom and in-water training programs, along with a series of instructor-shadowing sessions,” Sobocinski said. “We’re committed to matching the instructor’s teaching style to each swimmer and continually updating you on your child’s progress.”

Through the Splash-N-Tell™ program, parents are invited to the last 10 minutes of class to talk with the instructor and let their child show off their new skills.

“We believe swimmers need to develop swim skills that not only allow them to float, but to also move themselves to safety as confident, efficient swimmers,” Sobocinski said. “Having a correct, efficient swim stroke enables swimmers to move themselves out of potentially dangerous situations.”

Other safety tips to consider before your next trip to the water include:

• Learn CPR and basic first aid
• Know how to call 911
• Know how to call loudly for help
• Always be within arm’s reach of your child or children, even in very shallow water
• Make sure children know to ask for permission before going near or entering water
• Walk, do not run, on the pool deck
• Read the pool rules as a family
• Wear only coastguard approved flotation devices
• Use pool barriers for private pools
• Enroll in swim lessons for the entire family

Did you know SafeSplash now offers swim lessons at three convenient Sioux Falls locations? The original south Sioux Falls location is at 85^th Street and Minnesota Avenue, the newest location is at Dawley Farm Village, and SafeSplash lessons are conveniently offered at GreatLIFE’s Woodlake Athletic Club too.

Click here to learn more and get connected today.