There are reports from countries around the world that drowning incidents have increased as a result of the lack of swimming lessons and practice for children due to COVID-19 restrictions.
The United Kingdom has estimated up to a million children missed out on swimming lessons in 2020, and in Australia it is estimated that there is a need for thousands more swimming teachers. Similar problems can be said to exist across the globe, and there is concern that children are at risk because of the lack of swimming lessons and skills. The wait lists for swimming lessons is getting longer, and more swimming teachers are needed.
One of the leading causes of death for children between 1 and 4 years of age is drowning, and the World Health Organisation advises regular swimming lessons can help to reduce that risk. However as a result of the pandemic, it has been more than a year since most children have had any sort of instruction in swimming or water safety. Missing out on learning to swim brings increased potential risks of drowning and aquatic accidents.
Learning to swim and gaining knowledge of safety in, on and around water, is a gradual skill learnt through experience and repetition. Such a big break in lessons and opportunities to learn and practice creates potential for hazards now and in the longer term.
Critical to the problem is when the weather is warmer and people head back to the pool or waterways. While many pools and beaches are supervised by lifeguards, offering some degree of confidence, they cannot have eyes on every person all of the time and it is imperative that children and parents gain lifesaving water safety awareness skills. A swimming program based on survival and safety skills is a way to help prevent water related accidents and drownings. Structured swimming lessons will help to develop swimming strokes, and every child should have the opportunity to learn how to be safe in, on and around water.
Just as imperative as teaching children these skills, is helping parents to be aware of the dangers of water, and how to keep their children safe, not only at swimming pools, at the beach, or water parks, but also around the home. There are many hazards there, not just the backyard pool, but water tanks, water filled buckets, dams on country properties, or rivers and waterways nearby, all hazards with potential risks to cause harm, or worse, drownings.
Even children who had regular lessons prior to the pandemic need to get back to lessons and be reminded of safety around water, as well as to reinforce their swimming skills. Swimming is a learned skill through repetition and muscle memory, not having that regular practice will diminish their skills and put them at risk. In fact parents who have been able to return to swim lessons have noticed that their children’s swimming skills have gone backwards, and the kids have become more hesitant as a result of the lack of practice and repetition that they need to build up their strength and skills.
Now more than ever there is a huge demand for good swimming teachers. Are you ready to become a swimming teacher? Whether you choose to work for yourself or be employed by a school, swimming teachers are needed, and this is your opportunity to learn to teach this lifesaving and much needed skill.