Posts Tagged ‘swimming’

Avoiding the Sun, Aussie Style

Wednesday, June 23rd, 2010

In addition to the issue of general water safety and that whole not-letting-the-kids-drown thing, there is another issue that needs to be dealt with these days — sun protection.  Sunburn is no laughing matter, even if it doesn’t always lead to skin cancer — it’s bloody painful in its own right.  As parents, it’s part of our job to keep our children safe and that includes making sure they are not exposed to too much sun.

If just staying indoors isn’t an option (and, truthfully, would you want to be stuck in the house all summer with your kids?) then sunscreen is an absolute must.  But for the parts that don’t get sunscreen, is a t-shirt and swim trunks enough?  Perhaps — and perhaps not.  A lightly woven, wet t-shirt doesn’t really offer that much protection.  So what can one do, short of staying indoors?
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Pool Rules: Watch Your Kids or Pray

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

I’m spending a few days by the pool with my kids right now and, although the older two are both excellent swimmers, I am well aware of how very easy it is for even an expert swimmer to drown.  After five years of swim lessons, I feel comfortable sitting on the side of the pool keeping an eye on my kids instead of being in the water with them — but I make sure that I keep an eye on them.  The little one, at two-years-old, requires constant, hands-on, in-the-water attention.  Even with a swim ring, it would be too easy for him to flop over, end up upside-down, and not be able to right himself.  Sadly, not everyone understands that.

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