Overcoming Aquaphobia

The month of October is always focused on fear.  This is understandable because it is the time of the year when we celebrate Halloween.  The stores are full of costumes and candy, new horror flicks hit the movie theaters, and haunted houses and trails pop up all over town. Excitement over the thrill of being scared takes the community by storm as everyone eagerly anticipates the frightening surprises in store for them on the final night.

Being scared, in the right setting, can be a lot of fun.  There have even been a few scientific studies that suggest getting a good scare can even be a good stress reducer.  However, that is meant in a go visit a haunted trail with friends kind of way.  There are real things to be afraid of in this world that will only make life more stressful. In fact, there are many fears people face every day known as phobias.  These phobias are basic activities, places, and things that we all face on a daily basis.  Some of us find them normal while others become very distressed by them.  One such phobia is aqua- phobia.

You may have aqua-phobia if you find that any source of water causes you an excessive amount of anxiety. This can include a swimming pool, a lake, an ocean, or even a bathtub. Aqua phobia is often mistaken for another phobia called hydrophobia. Even though they both involve water, aqua phobia and hydrophobia aren’t the same.Hydrophobia is an aversion to water that develops in humans during the later stages of rabies

 

Some of the more common symptoms of aqua-phobia include the following:

• an immediate feeling of intense fear, anxiety, and panic when thinking about water
• a persistent, excessive, or unreasonable fear when exposed to water
• recognizing that the fear of water is excessive or out of proportion to the actual threat
• avoidance of water
• sweating
• rapid heartbeat
• tight chest and difficulty breathing
• nausea
• dizziness or fainting

While the causes of specific phobias aren’t well-understood,  there is some evidence that phobias can be genetically inherited. If you have a family member who has a mental health condition, such as anxiety or other phobias, you too may be at risk of developing a phobia.  Aqua-phobia is often caused by a traumatic event during childhood, such as a near-drowning. It can also be the result of a series of negative experiences. These typically happen in childhood and aren’t as severe as a traumatic experience. Science also suggests that changes in brain function may also play a role in developing specific phobias.

Having a fear of water is no fun.  After all, there are so many fun and exciting ways to experience the world through water. Scuba diving, water skiing, fishing and of course – SWIMMING!!! Phobias can be hard to overcome but it can be done. To receive the right form of treatment, a licensed mental healthcare provider must evaluate the person’s symptoms and diagnose their specific phobia.

For more information on the subject you can visit sites like mayoclinic.com and medicalnewstoday.com .

 

This article is brought to you by: The Swimming Swan

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The Importance of Understanding Beach Flags

The beach is a beautiful but dangerously ever-changing environment. Although it can be fun for the whole family, it can also be unpredictable. This makes it very dangerous to people who are unaware of the hazards that can occur at times. This is why highly trained and educated lifeguards use a system of flags and signs to inform visitors of the important safety regulations they need to know.

The most important flags on the beach are the red and yellow flags. These show the supervised area of the beach and that a lifesaving service (life guards) is operating. However, it always pays to be sure before entering the water. If there are no red and yellow flags in sight it is still a good idea to check with the lifeguards about current water conditions.

Safety signs are put in place to warn you about the permanent and occasional hazards that are present in the environment. Some of these signs are permanent for long term hazards. However, others are put into place each day by the lifeguards to show you the current hazards present on that day in a specific location. These hazards include rip currents which can change locations on different days.

Another factor that is never completely predictable, despite meteorologists best efforts, is the weather. Frequent beach goers know that the weather can change in the blink of an eye. It is extremely important to stay in the know with what each flag means to ensure a safe beach day for you and your  family.

The following example is an excellent way to better understand the flags and their meanings. Think of the flags like traffic lights. When a green flag is flying, conditions are calm, but swimmers should still exercise caution. Larger waves and rip currents are still possible.

Types of Beach Flags include:

A yellow flag means rough waves and moderate rip currents. While it implies conditions are not life-threatening, there is potential for dangerous undertow and swimmers should be cautious.

A purple flag is flown when dangerous marine life has been spotted. Dangerous marine life could mean anything from jellyfish to sharks and swimmers should use extreme caution keeping a close watch on their surroundings.

Red flags are the most serious, warning swimmers of high surf and strong currents. A red flag should not be taken lightly and swimmers should use extreme caution. Two red flags closes the beach to the public and swimming is prohibited.

If you don’t see a flag, that does not mean the water is safe. Swimmers should always be aware of their surroundings and stay alert while in the water. If you see a flag and are unsure of what it means, ask a lifeguard or look for a sign indicating the meaning.

 

This article is brought to you by: The Swimming Swan 

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Fall swimming fun for the whole family!

Fall swimming fun for the whole family!

Did you know apples and pumpkins float? They float because they are less dense than the water. They  are buoyant. Some cities like Chandler, AZ offer fall pool activities. At the Mesquite Groves Aquatic  Center, they have The Pumpkin Dunk. It is a floating pumpkin patch where families can get in the heated  pool to search for their favorite pumpkins. Later there is a costume contest. Registration and fees are required. (It appears the event is full this year… ) But I say make your own fun! If you have a backyard  pool …plop some pumpkins and apples in the pool. Make it a fall activity for all.  

With adult supervision let the kids swim and search for their own pumpkin. Then have a safe carving  area and decorate the pumpkins. Save the pumpkin seeds, clean them, and put on a cookie sheet, add  salt or cinnamon and sugar for a baked delicious treat. Make it a game as too who can find the most red  and green apples in the pool. Later clean, peel and slice the apples using kid safe utensils. Then everyone  can make an apple pie or apple crisp, to enjoy.  

Remember the ABCs of Water Safety…  

A=Always swim with Adult Supervision. 

B=Barrier, have a fence around the pool with a self-latching lock. 

C= Swim with Coast Guard approved life jacket, know CPR.

 

This article is brought to by: The Swimming Swan

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New Partnership with American Camp Association

The Swimming Swan is proud to announce a new business partnership with The American Camp Association (ACA)!

The American Camp Association is a community of camp professionals who, for over 100 years, have joined together to share our knowledge and experience and to ensure the quality of camp programs. Just as their membership is diverse and their programs distinct, so are the children who participate in their camp experience. The mission of the American Camp Association is enriching the lives of children, youth and adults through the camp experience

As an organization we value the world, the people who live in it, and the contribution each individual can make. These are not separate values, but concentric circles. The values that are important to us as an organization are the same as those we strive to instill in the children we guide.

We believe that the camp experience is essential to every child’s growth and education. Through our membership in the ACA, we contribute by working together to promote and articulate our association as a leading authority in child development. We contribute to the lives of the children and adults who participate in our programs and to their families and our communities, and, in turn, we encourage them to contribute to those who are part of their lives and to the world in which they live.

We believe in all the children and adults who come to our camps. They are the reason we exist. Through positive child development and partnering with parents, we encourage children to value their uniqueness and to understand and appreciate their part in the larger community. We help children develop self-esteem, character, courage, responsibility, resourcefulness, and cooperation. Quality camp experiences help children develop the healthy emotional and social skills necessary to grow into strong, considerate, competent adults.

We believe that each of us plays an important role in the stewardship of our environment—both natural and manmade. We help children grow into committed, responsible citizens by teaching them to appreciate, respect, and care for the world in which they live.

A few services The Swimming Swan provides the ACA camp members are the following:

• Swimming Lessons
• Lifeguard Services
• Red Cross Training and Certification Programs 

This article is brought to you by: The Swimming Swan 

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Surf’s up soon in Scottsdale Arizona!

Surf’s up soon in Scottsdale, AZ!

Yes, the whole family can soon head to Surf Town in Scottsdale, AZ. It is an 11-acre surfing wave park, producing up to 1000 waves per hour. Get ready to learn to surf or watch surfers ride the waves with finesse or not.

If you watched the Tokyo 2020 Olympics you saw Carissa Moore-American Surfer, make history as the first female gold medalist for the new Olympic shortboard surfing event. Well, you can head to this wave park with a manufactured beach, to watch pro and amateur surfing competitions. The attraction will also have a gym, a putting green, a cornhole area, beach volleyball courts, running and fitness trails. There will shops and dining for all. Research surftownwavepark.com 

With unemployment lagging since the pandemic last year, this gives people a chance now to sign up for American Red Cross Lifeguard Certification courses.

All water parks need Lifeguards!

If you are up for a challenge, Lifeguarding is for you. Lifeguards must be alert and responsible. Now is the time to join a field that is growing. Yes, its physically challenging and you must be a strong swimmer, but it’s also rewarding to know you can save a life.

Lifeguard/CPR/First Aid/AED Training 2-day courses provide: entry level lifeguard participants 15 years of age and older, the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies. A blended learning course with 7 hours online coursework, classroom and in water swim/skills tests. This standard Lifeguard certification contains both shallow water and deep-water training. It’s worth the fees to register and the certification is valid for 2 years.

Contact theswimmingswan.com to find out more. Click on the upper right corner Red Cross Courses, Lifeguard Certification, scroll down and find a state (CA, FL, NV) where courses are available. 

 

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