B-T AQUATICS

 BROWNELL-TALBOT SCHOOL  Omaha, Nebraska

AHOY, MATES! We swim for good times!

GENERAL: Home Public Swimming Map Omaha Swimming Gift Certificates

POOL PIRATES SWIM SCHOOL: General Information Fall 2008 Winter/Spring 2009 B-T 111 Program

B-T EVENTS: Swim Meets Pool Rental Back to Pool Day Pirate Parties Holiday Camp

AWARDS: B-TA Awards Mutual B-T 500 Face-Up Fast Award Swim the List Award

SAFETY: General Safety Info Online Course COMPETITION: Competition Midwestern Swim

BROWNELL-TALBOT SCHOOL SWIMMING: Physical Education MS Swim Team HS Swim Team

MISCELLANEOUS: Shipmates Weather Policy Coach Neal's Blog

"If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water."  Loren Eisley Nebraska anthropologist, ecologist, essayist, and poet.


Water Safety Education

for Parents & Caregivers

Online Course Content Updated March 2008

 

POOL PARTIES

  • Pool parties are for children who know how to swim...period.  Do not invite or allow children who cannot swim.  If everyone you want to invite cannot swim, plan something else.  If your child does not know how to swim - and swim well - do not allow him/her to attend a pool party.  (It's a great incentive to learn how to swim.)

  • Pool parties should be guarded by one or more certified lifeguards.  Additional parent supervisors and watchers are a great idea, but do not take the place of lifeguards.  If you host a pool party, make sure that you have rescue equipment and first aid supplies ready for use.  If you attend a pool party, check first for lifeguards and rescue equipment.

Pool Party Tips

 

Children's pool parties are the most fun when they are restricted to invited guests.  Younger and older siblings and tagalong neighbors and friends increase the risk and diminish the fun for the guest of honor.

 

My recommendation is that you only have pool parties at commercial facilities.  I do not recommend that anyone take on the liability of hosting a pool party at home - no matter how much fun you may think your child will have.

 

All of the other things that we have talked about tonight apply.  Usually at backyard pool parties doors are propped open breaching the layers of protection.  Often swimmers are allowed to drift from the pool to the house or patio area for food and games.  There is not a SWIM TIME and a PLAY TIME and a PRESENT TIME.

  • Host the party at a commercial facility with certified lifeguards.

  • Supplement the lifeguards with adult supervisor/watchers.

  • Keep the group small - six to ten is best for parties where there is a guest of honor, up to twenty for a group party.  For teenage groups of over twenty, choose a larger facility or water park.

  • Invite only those who can swim...and usually the kids who have the most fun are the ones who can also stand up in the facility you are using.  Check the water depth.

  • Swim during designated swim times.  Have frequent rest breaks.

  • It's not only ok, it is critical that you not only check in advance to see if guests can swim, but have them take a swim test when they arrive so you know what you are dealing with.

  • Exercise extreme caution with floats and rafts.  Even when everyone knows how to swim, you must have enough lifeguards stationed to see all the way around floats and rafts.

  • Keep the party short.  One hour is plenty for swim time.  Accidents happen when children are tired.

Questions?  Click to ask Coach Neal.


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