Thursday, April 25, 2024
SWIMMING IS FUN AND SAVES LIVES: This young swimmer is confident in the water. Formal lessons can instill that confidence and teach the tools for safe swimming.
It’s finally Memorial Day weekend. Time to get ready for a summer of splashy fun. With ample access to Lake Granbury as well as swimming pools public and private, Hood County has plenty of places to get wet and stay cool. However, while water slides and boat rides might be at the top of the fun list, drowning prevention – for young and old – should be a part of everyone’s summer plans.
PREVENTION SAVES LIVES
The numbers say it all – 4,000 drown every year in the U.S. – all preventable. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, except for birth defects, drowning is the leading cause of death for children, through age 4. For children 1-14, only motor vehicle accidents kill more than drowning accidents. For every child’s death by drowning, eight more children receive emergency care for nonfatal drowning incidents, which can lead to a hospital stay and serious after-effects.
Drowning is not just a problem for children though. In a survey by the Red Cross in 2014, while 80% of adults claim they can swim, only 55% believe they could pass a test of basic swimming skills. (See below.)
A good safety plan should include knowing how to swim, knowledge of water conditions, good fences and barriers around pools and spas, appropriate use of floatation devices and equipment, and ability to retrieve people from the water and administer appropriate care.
DROWNING IS SILENT
Drowning can happen in the baby pool as easily as the deep end. It takes training and a keen awareness to recognize drowning. Unlike how the movies and cartoons have depicted it, drowning is deceptive. In just a few seconds, someone might be overcome and slip below the surface with very little splashing and no cries for help. Close monitoring by a watchful lifeguard, a caregiver or a swim buddy can make all the difference.
Maggie Wylie, aquatics manager for the city of Granbury, urges parents who accompany their child to the pool, “Stay off your phone. Watch your child. The lifeguards may be there, but because drowning is silent, parents need to be alert too.”
LEARN TO SWIM
A major part of drowning prevention is overcoming fear of the water and building skills and confidence – the primary goals of swimming lessons.
Jeff Thomas, vice president of operations at the Hood County YMCA, said, “Swim lessons are perhaps the most important thing we do…. Learning to swim opens up a whole new world where you can go to the beach or water park and feel comfortable.”
The Hood County YMCA, located at 1475 James Road, has a robust class schedule for new swimmers. At the preschool level, for example, certified instructors will work with students on breath control, swimming on front and back, and other water safety basics. Classes meet four times a week for 30 minutes, and a session runs for two weeks. The costs are $75 for members, $120 for non-members.
The YMCA also provides free swimming lessons to the community in the form of scholarships. Thomas said, “We don’t want the cost of lessons to be a barrier to those that need them.”
Thomas also told Hood County News that the Y is committed to teaching adults how to swim. “Adults need to know how to swim because if they don’t, they are less likely to put their kids in lessons. We are trying to break that cycle.”
Ideal for adult learners, the Y offers private lessons that meet two times a week for two weeks per session. The cost is $100 for members, $150 for non-members. The age range for these lessons is “1 to 99.” During these 30-minute lessons, a certified swim instructor will work with students to achieve their goals, whatever they might be.
For more information on registering and scholarships, visit ymcafw.org/locations/hood-county, or call 817-573-7159.
WHERE TO SWIM
Opening Memorial Day weekend, the Dana Vollmer Municipal Swim Center is located at 400 N. Park Street, in the Granbury City Park off West Pearl Street. Closed Mondays for maintenance, the pool is open Tuesday and Thursday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. On Wednesdays, the pool is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays, the hours are 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. Each swimmer is $4 for admission. Lifeguards are on duty.
The City Beach Park on Lake Granbury in the middle of town is another place to cool off this summer. This sandy beach has a designated swim zone, public restrooms, a life jacket loaner station and summer rentals of kayaks, paddleboards and tubes to maximize the fun. There is also a splash park and shady pavilions for beachgoers.
While there are no lifeguards on duty, beach monitors are present to remind patrons of the rules – no alcohol, no glass, no smoking. The hours for City Beach, 505 E. Pearl Street, are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in the summer. There is no admission fee.
In addition to a year-round indoor pool for fitness classes, lap swim and lessons, the YMCA has a seasonal outdoor pool and water park, monitored by lifeguards. The pool with slide has a maximum depth of 3-1/2 feet. Members can use it for free, and non-members can pay a daily admission fee. Last year, it was $6 for adults, $5 for kids. These rates may change for 2022, and non-members are not allowed on weekends or holidays. Call ahead to check on admission fees and hours to 817-573-7159.
DeCordova Bend Park, also on Lake Granbury, has a full range of amenities, including a designated swim area, boat ramp and picnic tables. It is free and open all year. The park is located at 7620 Rainey Court.
Sidebar:
How are your swim skills?
Around 20% of adults cannot swim, but only 55% of swimmers over age 15 believe they could pass the basic skills test.
Keep in mind that a swimmer of any ability can get into trouble depending on water conditions, alcohol consumption and medical status. Wear an approved floatation device to ensure your safety, swim with a buddy and keep non-swimmers away from deep water until their skills are stronger.
Sources: Red Cross 2014 survey and WaterSafetyUSA.com.
