Summer Water Safety

Now is the perfect time to ensure that you and your family are prepared to spend a fun, safe vacation or fun time by the water. Enroll in age-appropriate swim lessons and follow important safety rules whenever you are in, on or around water:

Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards
Always swim with a buddy
Never leave a young child unattended near water
Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone
Establish water safety rules for your family and enforce them without fail
If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning
Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance, and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm

Take a minute today to sign up for a swimming course and review water safety tips before summer arrives.

American Family Fitness provides an array of American Red Cross classes year round including:

Learn to Swim Course
Preschool Aquatics (Swimming Course for Children)
Parent and Child Aquatics
Safety Training for Swim Coaches and Instructors

For more information regarding swim lessons or any of our American Red Cross courses, click here.

Debbi MooreDirector of Aquaticsdmoore@amfamfit.com

Article contributed by Geraldine Chapman

Geraldine Chapman is the Director of Information Marketing & Social Media at American Family Fitness in Richmond, VA. She’s been in the fitness industry professionally since 1997 as a personal trainer, group fitness manager, and fitness instructor. She has trained and certified in multiple fitness programs over the years. Her favorites to teach are barre, Active®, Blast®, and Power®. Geraldine graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a B.A. in Communication Arts & Design. She is also a Certified High-Performance Coach and Applied Neuro Strategist. She is passionate about researching autoimmune diseases and how lifestyle, fitness, nutrition, and mindset play a vital role in the prevention and management of autoimmune issues. When not working, you can find Geraldine with a camera in hand, enjoying quality time with her family and riding her motorcycle around town.