To swim means to be able to move about in the
water by yourself, and to be able to stop and rest without wiggling
around. Kicking and wiggling in the water makes you tired.
The real good times in the pool start when you learn how to
swim.
If you haven't learned how to swim, don't use flotation
devices in the pool. Improper use of flotation devices is unsafe
and it keeps you from being able to
learn to swim as fast as you would if you hadn't played with them.
Flotation devices like rafts, rings, noodles, water
wings, swimmies, and flotation swim suits all help you maintain a
vertical position in the water. Vertical means straight up and
down - like when you are standing. This is just the opposite of
what you need to do to swim! Once your muscles learn to move
around the pool with your body vertical, it takes a long, long time for
them to unlearn that and learn to swim in a horizontal position in the
water.
This
person is in a vertical position in the water.
This
SWIMMER is in a horizontal position in the water.
Use pool toys properly to have
Good Times in the swimming pool.
Do Not wear or use a flotation
devices in the pool until you can float on your back and swim at
least fifteen feet by yourself. At our pool, we call this the
Take the Plunge test: Jump into water over your head, recover
to a relaxed backfloat, swim fifteen feet, exit the pool without
assistance.
Do learn how to swim.
Playing with rafts, rings, and noodles is fun!
Take the DUMP TEST.
Sit on a raft or ring and have your mother or father flip you over
and dump you off the toy into the water. Practice floating on
your back after being dumped. Hold a relaxed, balanced back
float for a count of five and then swim to the side of the pool.
Can you pass the Dump test?
How
can you help keep yourself safe?
Be smart. Understand that flotation
devices should only be used by people who can swim independently.
Be patient. Practice,
practice, practice. You can learn how to swim.
Sometimes it takes a while to learn how to float on your back and move
around the pool by yourself. Never give up. Keep practicing
until you can swim.
Be a good sport. Don't try to
play with flotation devices like rafts, rings, and noodles until you
know you can swim by yourself. Don't argue with adults who remind
you of this important rule. Keep practicing your swimming skills,
and find other toys to play with until you can pass the swim test.
Test
yourself...
Who
can play with flotation devices like rafts, rings, noodles, and water
wings?
This
person is in a vertical position in the water.
This
SWIMMER is in a horizontal position in the water.
