Storms and Water Safety

Article by: Dayle Rothman

Do you know when and why to get out of the water? You’re at the beach and dark clouds start rolling in, what do you do? You’re at the community pool and the sky is clear but you hear thunder, does that mean you must get out of the water? The Swimming Swan’s number 1 goal is to keep you safely swimming and that includes water safety during storms. 

 

Electricity and water are a deadly combination!

The risk of being struck by lightning in the water is real and extremely dangerous. Lightning typically strikes wide open flat surfaces and searches for the highest point. When you are swimming in a lake or the ocean your head bobbing out of the water may be the highest point for miles making it a favorite target. A direct lightning strike is terrifying, but it’s often an indirect strike that can still reach you several feet away. According to the US National Weather Service a typical lightning flash measures about 300 million volts and 30,000 amps. which is more than enough to kill. When lightning strikes water it travels horizontally along the surface which is why it’s more hazardous to swimmers than fish who swim deeper. Swimming pools both indoor and outdoor are also to be avoided during electrical storms since there are metal pipes in and around the pools that can attract the electricity. Storms are frequently regarded as a summer issue but they can pop up any time of the year and should always be taken seriously. Here are the recommended guidelines you should follow to keep you and your family safe during storms.

 

• We advise always checking the upcoming weather before planning a day at the lake or beach. If storms are predicted, consider postponing your plans to avoid unnecessary danger.

 

• If you hear thunder or see lightning get out of the water immediately! Follow the CDC’s 30-30 rule to assess how far off the storm is after you have exited the water. Count to 30 after the initial roar and if you don’t reach 30 before the next roar of thunder or bolt of lightning automatically suspend all water activity for at least 30 minutes.

 

• Taking shelter can be tricky if you are at the lake or beach. If a storm rolls in quickly your car may be the best form of shelter. Avoid concrete structures since there are metal pipes that can conduct electricity through the structure. 

 

• If there is no shelter available, the CDC recommends crouching low with as little of your body touching the ground as possible.

 

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Lifeguard Certification Courses in San Diego County, California

Lifeguard Certification Courses in San Diego

Is swimming as natural as breathing to you? Are you living in the San Diego vicinity and dreaming of spending your days by the water but need to make some money too? Do you enjoy being there to help others and want to be a part of your community? If you answered yes to these questions, then The Swimming Swan is here to help you achieve success! We are Licensed Training Providers of the American Red Cross with decades of professional experience. 

Our 2-day Lifeguard/First Aid/CPR/AED course is the first step to your new dream job by the water. The primary purpose of the American Red Cross Lifeguarding Course is to provide entry-level lifeguard participants with the knowledge and skills to prevent, recognize and respond to aquatic emergencies and to provide professional-level care for breathing and cardiac emergencies, injuries and sudden illnesses until emergency medical services EMS personnel take over. You must be at least 15 years old, pass a 300-yard continuous swim test in front crawl or breaststroke, and capable of treading water for 2 minutes using only your legs. You will also be required to complete the Red Cross 7 hour online coursework prior to the first day and bring a print out with you for verification.

Do you have a few friends also interested in becoming lifeguards? We work with any group of 5 or more and our instructors will travel to you for on-site group training. For group training we will need access to a pool that is at least 82 degrees, has a deep end of 7-feet, and a comfortable classroom setting. You are flying solo that’s great too, check our calendar of available public courses.

We currently offer lifeguard certification courses at 2 locations within San Diego that you may already be familiar with. Green Oak Ranch Retreat and Event Center is 142 acres of beauty with a rich history of helping those in need. The pool overlooks the undeveloped hills around the ranch and is a serene setting to spend your days. The Ranch is under 30 minutes from anywhere in North San Diego County.

If you are looking for more action and want to be closer to the beach, The Plunge is one of the largest indoor pools in Southern California and recently renovated with floor to ceiling windows. The Plunge is open year-round thanks to a retractable roof and features recreational swim with access to “the best inflatable obstacle course in San Diego”. They also offer lane swimming, multiple water aerobics classes, and Plunge Masters Swim Team. With all of this activity and private parties too, this location will be humming with action daily! 

This article is brought to you by: The Swimming Swan

 

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Swimming: The Gift of Memories

Swimming: The Gift of Memories

By Dayle Tillman

 

Many of us initially introduce swimming to our infants and toddlers with safety as our main goal.  As new mothers we read about children drowning and we know it’s the devastating silent killer.  Teaching our children to swim is so much more than just a precaution though.  Giving the gift of swimming is a sport that will carry our children to their golden years and they will fill the chapters of their life with memories from swimming that are full of laughter and love.

As toddlers and young children explore swimming, they are developing healthy muscles and lungs in a fun environment.  Can you remember spending hours in the water until your mom insisted you get out of the pool immediately exclaiming your lips were turning blue?  Do you remember what you were doing?  Perhaps you were diving to find the penny, competing with your friends to see who could swim the longest distance before coming up for a breath or the classic favorite pool game “Marco Polo”.  

Swimming also lends itself to quality family time with minimal external distractions.  Lazy weekends spent at the pool lounging around chatting casually in a relaxed atmosphere that is often challenging to find indoors.  Engaging in some healthy fun competition like diving rings that just may give the smaller family members a chance to some bragging rights at dinner that night.  Even busy weekends spent traveling to sports events that may separate families for the day can wind down with dinner outdoors and an evening swim under the stars sharing the events of the day.

Teenagers spend a hefty amount of summer break hanging out with friends at the pool or beach.  Social anxiety is high at this age and being a confident swimmer is paramount to enjoying this free time.  Pool parties aren’t very much fun if you are afraid of the water and this is the time in our lives that many of us create some of our memories that linger long after our youth.  As a sport, swimming is a wonderful way to compete both individually and as part of a team.  High school and college athletes have a sense of belonging and school pride along with earning personal accolades and financial scholarships.

Weekends and vacation are the true destination from the time we enter the workforce until we retire.  Spending time on the water and filling our free time with beach adventures, boating and pool time is exactly what we crave. The gift of swimming allows us to enjoy this time and take full advantage of the soothing and uncomplicated environment that water creates.

For more information on our kids swim lessons programs, please  see: parent-tot swim, toddler swim, preschool swim, child swim.

 

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7 Water Exercises for Weight Loss

By: American Sports & Fitness Association ASFA

Anyone with a fitness certification knows that water exercises are a great way to get a low-impact workout that is easy on the joints. This is especially important for individuals who are trying to lose weight and may have discomfort around their joints. Water exercises can be a great way for people who want to lose weight, tone up and get fit.

1. Walking in the pool is an easy exercise that anyone can do regardless of fitness level or age. The natural resistance from the water helps to burn additional calories and help tone muscles without over straining. People who need more stability can hold onto the sides of the pool for balance.
2. Marching is another great option for those that struggle with walking. Be sure to get your knees up as high as you can to use the water resistance to your benefit. Being in the water takes the stress off the hips and knees and can allow greater range of motion than being out of the water.
3. Walking lunges in the pool are perfect when functional training for weight loss. The lunges help strengthen the muscles around the knee and increase agility and stability. Being in the water helps you lunge deeper allowing you to be more efficient with the movement.
4. Leg lifts are another functional muscle workout that you can do in the pool. You can face the wall and lift backwards to strengthen the glute muscles or lift to each side to strengthen the outer and inner thighs. Doing the movements slow and controlled adds greater resistance from the water giving you a full leg work-out without impact to the joints.
5. Jumping Jacks in the water take this cardio move to a new level forcing you to engage your core muscles to stabilize and keep balance with each jump.
6. Flutter Kicks can be performed using a kick board or by holding on to the edge of the pool. This move strengthens and tones the entire leg and works your core by holding the body in a plank like position.
7. Scissor Kicks also get your heart rate up and tone your legs. You can do this by holding on to the edge or leaning against a step. With your feet floating in front of you, scissor kick your legs to tone up and burn calories.

Working out in the water can provide you with the best Functional Fitness program allowing you to tone up, burn calories, lose weight, and increase overall personal fitness. Any trainer that has completed their personal trainer course can help demonstrate or create a personalized water fitness plan to help you lose weight and meet your fitness goals.

For more information on our private at-home aqua fitness courses: see here.

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Water Safety and Hiring a lifeguard!

Ahhh, Spring has sprung! The longer nights, beautiful weather, the chirping birds and blooming flowers, something about Spring time just makes us happy. Maybe its that summer is so close we can almost taste it! With spring breaks and warmer weather, swim season is officially upon us!

This is a great time to make sure you are aware of important water safety tips to keep your family safe while having fun! Make sure you are always, 100% actively supervising your children when they are swimming. It is so easy to get caught up in conversation that we forget our “swimmer” is not as strong of a swimmer as we think. It only takes a matter of seconds for a child to get into trouble in the water! Keep your eyes on them. If you think for a minute that you are not able to keep them within your sight AND within reach, then have them stay out of the water until the time presents itself that you are near and alert.

It can be a safe and fantastic idea to have a designated supervisor for parties and family events. Parents easily become over confident and sometimes confused as to who is watching the kids. Making someone responsible at all times helps to ensure that all children are supervised.

Lifeguards are essential at public water facilities to ensure the safety of each child present. Did you know you can hire our life guards  for your own get togethers or parties? The Swimming Swan lifeguards are all certified and have gone through extensive training necessary to keep their eyes on each person in the water. Hiring a lifeguard for any event where just a few, or multiple, children will be in the water can be helpful, and is always your safest option. If you know parents are socializing as well, its the best solution. Contact us today to learn more about how we can get a lifeguard to your event.

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Family Fun Activities At-Home during Covid-19

Covid-19 Update We’ll skip the message about Covid-19 and how crazy the times are currently. We are all upended and now is a time for community. With all children at-home, we have compiled a list of fun, at-home activities for the whole family! A note: our at-home swimming lesson services are postponed due to the […]

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