SAFETY CORNER
Why You Should Not Use Floaties By Marcella Miciano
S
ummer in South Florida is hot. One of the best ways to beat the heat is by taking a dip in the pool. Unfortunately, one very common pool product may be putting children at risk. Floaties, also known as water wings, are one of the most dangerous items your children can use while playing in the water. Here are some common misconceptions about floaties: My child plays and swims more confidently when they use floaties. Your child may have more confidence in the water because their floaties provide them with a false sense of security. Using floaties gives the child the feeling that they will always be able to float on their own or jump into the pool and rise to the surface without assistance. It is important to remember that a child can not differentiate between when they are using floaties and when they are not. Children should attend swim lessons to learn how to feel the water, buoyancy and their body working to keep them afloat. I always make sure my child’s floaties are securely on their arms. They’d never be able to take them off. Children can easily – and silently – take their floaties off and jump into the pool. It is nearly impossible for even the most responsible parent to hear their child remove floaties. While nothing can replace an attentive adult, or designated Water Watcher, keeping an eye on children playing in the pool, teaching children to swim without floaties will certainly make the water safer. I feel better knowing my child will always be at the surface of the water when they use their floaties. You feel this way because your child’s floaties are giving you a false sense of security. Here’s the problem – parents often become overly confident that their child is safe in the water when the reality is a child can remove their floaties in only a second if an adult looks away. I thought floaties were the safest option for a child who cannot swim or float on their own. Did you know that floaties are not Coast Guard approved? This means they are not meant to be used as a lifesaving flotation device. Floaties are a toy and should be treated the same as plastic watering cans, diving rings, and water guns. None of these toys can save a child’s life. Floaties are made with a weak plastic that can easily rip or tear on rough pool surfaces. They can easily become damaged while playing. Using a proper fitting life vest is the best option if your child needs a personal flotation device. Swimming lessons are the best way to keep your child safe at the pool. These lifesaving lessons provide far more security than floaties.
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Marcella Miciano is Executive Director of The Swim Academy, which has been providing swimming lessons to the South Florida community for over 20 years. It is located at 1570 Sagemont Way. For more information call 954-384-4500 or visit www.TheSwimAcademy.com.
76 / Our City Weston / August 2021 / OurCityMedia.com
