A Parent’s Guide to Swimming Pool Safety & Hygiene

 An introduction to swimming for children

Learning to swim is a memorable experience – for both children and parents. It can be nerve-racking if your children aren’t confident swimmers. But once they start improving their skills, swimming is rewarding. Indeed, it’s considered an important life skill. 70% of parents think swimming is the most important sport for children to learn, according to The Swimming Teachers Association (STA).

Being comfortable in and around water can maximise safety. Yet one in three children between the ages of 10-16 can’t swim. The 2017 report, again from STA, highlighted how parents struggle with a lack of time and money to teach them. But did you know swimming is on the National Curriculum?

With more than 700 people drowning in the UK and Ireland every year, it’s no surprise that swimming is a priority for the government. But with targets falling behind, what can be done? In this guide, we explore the importance of teaching children to swim and how to improve safety and hygiene with lifeguard training

Why should your children learn to swim?

First and foremost, swimming is fun. Most children love getting in the water and for people of all ages, it’s an enjoyable leisure activity. But there’s another important reason why everyone should be given the opportunity to learn: swimming is one of the only sports which can save your child’s life.

According to Swim England, drowning is still one of the most common causes of accidental death in children. Learning to swim can be lifesaving. Yet a surprising amount of people reach adulthood with restricted skills. As part of Drowning Prevention Week 2019, research from The Royal Life Saving Society UK found that:

Nearly 30% of people surveyed said that their swimming abilities limited the activities they could do

20% admitted they couldn’t swim at all

You don’t want your child to grow up not knowing how to swim, or potentially being fearful of the water. Swimming is something that children of any age or ability can get involved with – in fact, it’s one of the most accessible sports for anyone with additional needs.

Here are some of the other benefits of learning to swim:

• Swimming is a great cardiovascular workout and burns calories without putting strain on the joints

• When learning, key accomplishments are rewarded, and it can encourage self-confidence in children

• It opens up the opportunity to take part in other sports, such as kayaking, surfing or triathlons, which require swimming skills

• In the UK, most of us – children and adults – don’t meet the national recommendations for physical activity. In fact, there are growing concerns about how sedentary behaviour can affect us. It’s all too easy to stay glued to our screens, whether that’s the TV, a laptop or our phones. It’s something all of us can relate to, which is what makes the health benefits of swimming for exercise some of the most persuasive.

• For children and young people (aged 5-18 years old), it’s recommended you should be physically active for an average of at least 60 minutes a day. For adults, as well as strengthening activities, at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity activity a week or 75 minutes of vigorous intensity activity a week is recommended with lifeguard recertification usa
• 
  
  
  
  

Yet few of us are achieving the recommended amounts of exercise, as Sport England reports:

• 90% of 2- 4-year olds

• 80% of 5-15-year olds

• 39% of adults

So, why swim? Of course, any exercise is beneficial. But swimming is great because it can:

• Lower stress levels

• Reduce anxiety and depression

• Improve sleep patterns

• Improve heart health

• Lower blood pressure

• Improve lung capacity

• Increase bone strength

Source: The Health and Wellbeing Benefits of Swimming report, June 2017

There are positive statistics about swimming participation. The graph below shows the share of children participating in swimming, diving or life-saving activities in England. Children of different ages are getting involved with swimming – in fact, it’s the most popular sport among 5 to 10-year olds in England.

Also read about: 9 Swim Workouts For Beginners