Vanessa: A Mom Committed to Water Safety

Vanessa discovered a birthday coupon for 20% off YMCA programs in an email. Out of the possibilities, the July Life Guard Training caught her eye. Her mom was a life guard. Now the parent of a 2-year-old, the water safety ideas Vanessa’s mom instilled in her childhood took on new meaning. So, she chose that program. The other 5 in the class were actively pursuing the class for employment; 4 high school and/or college students and 1 adult looking for a meaningful job after retirement. Vanessa lacked the up-to-date water skills they possessed as competitive swimmers and instructors; her primary focus was her son and his safety. They spent lots of time around the water…at a neighbor’s and friends’ pools, as well as family times at cottages and lake houses. She said not all swim sites had life guards on duty.

Vanessa said the drowning statics she heard in the YMCA Life Guard Training shocked her. The CDC says every day 10 people die from unintentional drowning. Of this number, 2 are 14 years or younger. It is the 5th leading cause of unintentional injury death. For every child who dies, another 5 are treated at the ER. More than 50% of that number require hospitalization; some suffer irrevocable brain damage. 

With the help of Patty Scotto, the YMCA of Broome County Aquatics Director, and a friend, Vanessa passed the training. Patty sent her You-Tube videos and the friend helped her with swim strokes and building endurance. With her current CPR certification and Lifeguard Training, Vanessa feels confident she could assist in a water rescue emergency.

The choice she made on a whim may save a life. Vanessa adds one other benefit from the class…she discovered a passion for lap swimming! She says this is now her favorite workout routine.

Patty Scotto offered summertime water tips to keep everyone safer:                        

• Reach or Throw don't go, teach non-swimmers to help someone who is struggling in the water to reach or throw something to a them, not to try to get in and save them, as a panicked person will grab onto anyone or anything to keep their head above water.
• Actively supervise children in the water, designate at least one 'water watcher' this person should not read, drink alcohol, socialize or be on their cell phone or other electronic device.
• Have a phone nearby for emergencies.
• Ditch the water wings and inflatables, these devices provide a false sense of security, use life vests or puddle jumpers.
• Make sure to stay within arms reach of any child needing a flotation device.
• Ditch the mermaid tails, these can be extremely dangerous as they limit the ability for a swimmer to kick their feet in the water.
• Take swim breaks often to reduce fatigue, hydrate and use the bathroom to reduce fecal incidents.
• Install barriers & set rules.
• Sign up the kids for swim lessons.
• Any child who has had a submersion in water and comes up coughing uncontrollably or is unable to catch their breath should be monitored closely and evaluated by a health professional.
• With infants you should not submerge them more than 2-3 times per swimming session, as they may be swallowing water when you do this.
• if you are going to have a party at your backyard pool it may pay off to hire a lifeguard.

Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts | Home and Recreational Safety | CDC Injury Center

• From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day.
• An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents.
• About one in five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries
• About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.
• For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.

www.cdc.gov