Those sun-filled, endless summer days are almost upon us. Which means time to enjoy all the beautiful lakes near Fargo! But before planning that lake day or lake resort vacation, make sure you know the essential tips to keep your kids safe around open water.
We turned to our partners and local experts at Foss Swim School to share the best water safety tips ahead of summer. Water Safety Month this May, so it’s a great time to refresh those skills with the whole family!
Before heading to your next lake adventure, keep these safety tips in mind.
Lake Days: 10 Water Safety Tips
- Supervise closely: turn off phones to minimize distraction, and rotate supervisors amongst caregivers. Make sure an adult is watching kids swim at all times.
- Many public beaches do not have lifeguards present, so be prepared with a flotation device of some kind if needed.
- Know your location (name of the lake, public beach name, or address of the property). In the event of an emergency, you’ll want to let an operator know exactly where you are.
- Be aware of depth changes in the lake, they can happen quickly.
- Watch for uneven lake bottoms. The bottom of the lake can be murky, and can you to sink a bit or get off balance with one step.
- Be mindful of diving or jumping into shallow water. Many docks at local lake beaches or private residences are not in deep enough water to dive.
- If you are at a public beach, don’t go past the ropes that mark the limit.
- If you hear thunder or see lightning, leave the water immediately.
- If swimming off a boat, make sure it is anchored. Always stay near the vessel and watch for other boats in your area. Make sure the boat engine is always off when swimmers are in the water.
- Boaters are required by law to have a lifejacket on hand for all riders, and children should wear one at all times.
The best way to help children stay safe is to enroll them in swimming lessons. They will build their confidence in the water and learn what to do if they fall in.
At Foss Swim School, they focus on 6 essential steps to water safety that every child should know. Foss encourages you to make sure that, wherever your child learns swimming, these basic steps are taught and practiced.
Foss Swim School: 6 Steps to Water Safety
1. Cultivate Calm
Resist panic by remaining calm around water. Children are better able to reach safety in a calm state.
2. Return to the Surface
Hold breath; trapped air assists with buoyancy! Resist exhaling or thrashing, and use simple swim motions.
3. Float to Breathe
This is the safest position for a child to breathe. Kids’ heads are heavy relative to their body, so trying to float upright or on their tummy is dangerous. Learning how to flip is a simple skill. A child floating on their back has a greater chance of rescue already.
4. Find the Wall
Falling in the water usually means safety is nearby – a dock, the edge of a pool, a boat or floating platform. Once on his or her back, a child can look for that safe place.
5. Swim-Flip-Swim
To get there, a child who knows all the steps should know to flip onto their tummy, swim a short distance, flip back over onto their back to breathe, and repeat as necessary.
6. Elbow-Elbow-Squeeze
Upon reaching something solid, if the height is near water level (like a pool), a child can complete self-rescue. Don’t try to crawl out – get an elbow up, then the other, then squeeze them together to lift the body. Otherwise, grab on and call for help.
Enroll in Foss Swim School for Summer!
Enrollment for Summer Quarter opens May 12th! Choose from one lesson per week or two lessons per week.
- One lesson each week – June 15 – August 30 (multiple class days available)
- Two lessons each week – Tuesdays and Thursdays during the following sessions:
- Camp 1: June 16 – July 9
- Camp 2: July 14 – August 6
- Camp 3: August 11 – 27
Find out more about summer classes, cost, and more at the Foss Swim School Fargo website.
