It's important for teachers or parents to teach children to obey the rules of the game and to wear the proper equipment. Good equipment, and proper use of equipment, can dramatically reduce the likelihood of serious injury. We know that in football, for instance, proper helmets can prevent serious head injuries.
Q: Swimming, or pool-related injuries, must be another source of concern for parents. By the time children are in their pre-teen years, are most of them fairly competent swimmers?
There are a significant number of kids who don't know how to swim. Kids in the Southwest United States are pretty competent swimmers, as they've grown up in a warm area and are fairly familiar with pools and swimming. But in the Northeast states this is not the case, and we have to be careful, particularly around boating, as most often drowning is the result of a boating accident.
Q: So what is you message to parents about their childrens' swimming safety?
First, if you know that your children will be spending time near the water, make sure they know how to swim. Teach them yourself, or find them swimming lessons. And again, follow the safety rules around a pool or beach. Also, make sure that there is an adult supervising the pool or beach, and that your children are swimming with a buddy. As with any type of high-risk activity, you increase your risk dramatically if you are by yourself.
Q: What are the dangers associated with diving?
You really need to teach your children how to dive properly so that they don't injure their heads and necks. Many times parents teach their kids to jump into a pool feet first, and I think it's a good rule until they are accomplished "jumpers", and seem ready to move on to diving.
Conclusion
So this year, as your pre-teens are racing out the door for high-summer adventure, make sure they're prepared with the right equipment, and the right skills to keep the summer injury-free.
