This story was created by #ThisIsTucson for the City of Tucson Parks & Recreations aquatics programs and lifeguard training. Thank you for supporting the local organizations that support us!
Kids love to play in the water.
And from swimming pools to man-made ponds at the park, chances are they'll be around it at some point during the summer.
So, it's important to make sure they know these basic skills to keep them safe.
1. Backfloating
"Getting the kids to be able to back float gets them to relax overall, which helps them with anything else," said Garrett Armstead, general manager of Sunshine Swim School. "Knowing they can just roll to their back and float gives them a safety option."
2. Blow bubbles
"We try to get them to blow bubbles so that any time their face enters the water they have air coming out so it doesn't allow water to come into their mouth or nose," Armstead said. "A lot of kids will try to go under with their mouth open. They have no idea. So, making sure their mouth is closed and blowing air out."
3. Learn how to get out of the pool
"Knowing how to get out of the pool is important too," Armstead said. "We have them jump in even at the younger levels. We have them do jump-ins so they can come up and do a back float or they kick to the wall and are able to pull themselves up and out of the pool once they get there."
4. Kicking
"Sometimes some sort of kicking can give them enough momentum to get back to the wall," Armstead said.
3 basic pool safety tips
Put toys away
Make sure to put all pool toys away. Leaving toys by the pool will attract kids to the area, Armstead said.
Don't have big inflatable rafts
If you have a lot of people in the pool, it's best to not have big inflatable rafts because someone can get trapped underneath without anybody noticing, Armstead said.
Assign responsibility
If you have a pool party, designate one adult to watch the pool. That means no helping get food or leaving the area.
Become a lifeguard this summer
This program provides training for teens age 15 and up at city-wide pools as lifeguards and water safety instructors. Participants gain valuable work experience and leadership skills and will be eligible to apply to be lifeguards or swim instructors at Tucson city pools.
Sign up now for the $50 training. Click here for more info about times and locations.
