May is National Water Safety Month

Prepare for Summertime

Can you feel it? Summer is just around the corner! For the Buchanan's that means beach time, boating and poolside family fun. With both of us being raised in Lake County, FL we understand the importance of water safety and learning how to swim, and to do this at an early age. Our daughter, Teagan, was in the water at 6 months old learning how to swim. Now at 2 1/2 years old she is our little fish!

With May being National Water Safety Month, we wanted to recap some tips on how to keep your loved ones safe around summertime fun!

Be comfortable in the water.

The safest thing to do is to teach your children how to swim. Whether those lessons come from you, family, friends or certified swim instructors, it's important for children to be comfortable in the water and to be able to save themselves in an emergency.

Did you know the local YMCA Golden Triangle offers Swim Lessons for children? They have multiple sessions running through this summer. Teagan is in a session right now at the Y, and loves it! She looks forward to being in the water with her coach Jordan and the new friends she has made.

Want a chance to win free Swim Lessons for a child you know? Enter our drawing at your next visit to Buchanan Health Group. We teamed up with the YMCA and are giving away 2 8-lesson swim sessions on May 23. These sessions value at $49 for members and $104 for non-members. It's a GREAT prize to win for a child you know!

Buddy up.

Swim with a buddy! You never know when you may need an extra hand for an emergency.

Give 100% of your attention.

No matter the strength of your child's ability to swim, give 100% of your attention to the child. No texting, surfing the web or chatting on the phone if you are near water. It takes only a split second for an emergency to occur. If you ever lose your child, always check the water first. Basically, be on your "A game"!

Be prepared for an emergency.

At least one person in the group should know First Aid and CPR. There are programs that certify you in these areas.  These programs are meant for anyone with limited or no medical training. They are offered in a group setting or online and taught by certified instructors.

Here is a list of businesses that provide CPR training:

• Pro-Life CPR
  www.pro-lifecpr.com; 352-602-5474.
  Pro-Life offers courses in a group setting or they can come to you.
   
• American Red Cross
  http://www.redcross.org; 1-800-RED CROSS.
  American Red Cross is offering a class on 6/4/2013 from 6pm-9pm in Leesburg, FL.
   
• American Heart Association
  www.onlineaha.org.
  American Heart Association offers these courses online.

Drink plenty of water.

The rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces. However, if you’re active and out in the sun, you should drink more than the recommended amount of water. Always remain hydrated to avoid heat exhaustion and muscle cramps.

Suit-up.

The term “suit-up“ is used a lot in our home.  To us it means let’s get our swimsuits on and lather up with sunscreen. Even if it’s a cloudy day, wear sunscreen!

Break Time.

Taking breaks is so hard for Teagan to do. This is the one rule we struggle with in our home. It’s important to take breaks out of the heat and rest your body to prevent emergencies.

With all this talk about water time, I can’t wait for our next getaway to North Captiva, FL next week.  We will be sure to share our pictures and stories with you.