Pool parties are great, for swimmers, that is,
but you have to give all of your guests a short quiz.
Can you
swim independently? That means all alone.
With no jackets,
no swimmies, no floaties, no rings? It's not safe to depend upon any
of these things.
A pool party is not for learning to float.
Pool parties are for those who float like a boat.
It's not safe.
It's not fun. It's not right. It's not smart to allow
your non-swimming friends to take part.
If having a pool party
will leave some guests out, go bowling instead so all guests can
shout,
"Hip, Hip, Hooray! I'm so glad that my friend
cares about my safety and wants ME to attend!"
We swim for good times!®
Pool parties are wonderful. You can play games
and race and splash and do cannon balls.
Pool parties, like water parks, are for people who
know how to swim.
If you do not know how to swim, don't attend a pool
party. Learn to swim first.
Do not invite someone who doesn't know how to swim to
your pool party. If you want to keep that person safe and have him
or her at your party, choose something else. Go bowling or to the
park. An important part of being a good friend is looking out for
that friend's safety. An important part of being a party host is
thinking of your guests first.
Click to see a sample
invitation insert. Put something like this into your party
invitations so that everyone knows they will be tested before the party
starts. You need to know who can swim and who needs to stay out of
the water.
Keep your pool party small - under 10 guests is
safest. Keep your party short. We know you play hard at pool
parties and get tired. Accidents happen more often when you are
tired.
Do just one thing at a time at your party.
Everybody swims at the same time. Everybody eats at the same time.
Everybody opens presents at the same time. Don't allow your
friends to drift back and forth between eating and presents and
swimming. Focus your attention to keep everyone safe.
How
can you help keep yourself safe?
Be smart. Invite only those who can
swim to your party.
Be patient. Do one thing a
time during your party. Keep everyone together swimming and
everyone together eating and everyone together opening presents.
Don't split up the group! You may have to wait for people to
finish eating before you can all go back in the pool together.
Be a good sport. Understand
that it's not safe for non-swimmers and weak swimmers to attend pool
parties. You may have to choose a different party if you have
non-swimming friends or non-swimming brothers and sisters attending the
party. That's ok. You want everyone to be safe.
Encourage your friends and siblings to learn how to swim so you can give
a pool party when they are ready.
