HOW CAN A PLANE CRASH SURVIVOR CHEAT DEATH?

Imagine, Michael Trapp losing the engine power in his plane, survives the crash in the middle of Lake Huron – when what! Mr. Trapp survived hours in the water because he knew how to float on his back, paddle and treat water.

As the owner/instructor of a swimming company, swim swim swim I SAY, I ALWAYS explain that survival skills, such as floating on your back and treading water can save your life. Here is an example that no one can discount. So I ask all parents and swimmers to pay very close attention to what you/your child are learning when taking swimming lessons.

I will tell you from my experience, most adults and child don’t like at first the feeling of water in their ears when floating on their back. I talk to all my clients as we do a back float and explain, “You will get used to it and the way it feels. It will become like nothing.” I also get asked, “How can I get the water out?” Believe it or not, tilting your head to one side, lightly pulling on your ear and hopping up and down on one leg will do it. So you look silly for a moment but you will feel the water run right out. For more tips, please look at my blog on SWIMMER’S EAR found at, http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/ (bottom of the home page).

I prefer to teach treading water as my students begin to learn the freestyle stroke right after the back float. Treading water, at first, can be difficult; when you get the hang of it, you can make it a game for everyone. Seeing who can treat water the longest. If there are too many of your friends still hanging in, go for hands up in the air. That makes it very interesting.

For what happened to Mr. Trapp, both back floating and treading water saved his life besides his will to live. I ask all of you to please learn these survival skills Mr. Trapp did because we would not be writing a story such as this but a story on how he didn’t survive this accident. I want to wish Mr. Trapp a speeding recover. Also, thank him for his survival. You may say," that is strange."  Mr. Trapp has no idea what an impact he has make on the lives of so many people. He will help many learn how to swim and learn the survival skills that saved his life. Mr. Trapp, you have just help decrease the second leading cause of accidental death among children and the number of minorities that LOSE THEIR LIVES TO DROWNING EVERY SINGLE DAY! I thank you.

“your life in the water matters”

Agnes Davis

President/CEO

Adavis@swimswimswimisay.com

http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

SWIMMER’S EAR- WHY DOES IT HAPPEN TO SOME AND NOT OTHERS!

With the hot weather here, the outdoor pools opened in NYC, swimmer’s ear unfortunately will be a factor for some kids and adults.

What is swimmer’s ear? Plain and simple- It is an infection of the outer ear canal caused by water or moister remaining after swimming, showers, hairsprays etc. The natural wax in your ear protects you but if you aggressively clean out to much of the wax, the water soften up the remaining wax. Now you have created the perfect moist environment for the bacteria to grow. You will have some discomfort to very bad pain. In addition, a fever, fluid drainage and a decrease in hearing due to the swollen canal as an extreme case may occur.

The best way to combat this problem is to take some preventive measures after swimming and showering.

·         Tilt your head to one side, GENTLY tug on your ear or hop up and down on one leg. You will feel the water move out of the ear. Yes, you may look funny and silly but it works!

·         Towel dry your ears

·         Keep your natural ear wax

·         If you do get the start of an infection, seek out medical advice. An old remedy is a drop of vinegar drops or half vinegar – half rubbing alcohol drops on a cotton Q-Tip into your ear. Please make sure you are lying down so the DROP can enter the ear.

Enjoy the summer and don’t forget the keep those ears dry. See you in the water!

http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

DROWNING: IT HAS ALREADY STARTED AND JUNE ISN’T OVER

Since the weather got warmer, the drowning of children has been in the news every week. The ages have varied but the outcome is still the same. Understand in no way am I making light of this serious situations but it frustrates me. Why? Drowning is a preventable death. Yes, preventable with swimming lessons and certain precautions. Most towns offer free swimming lessons all year around. If not, organizations like the Make a Splash Foundation have local providers that offer low cost swimming lessons /scholarships to students to take lessons (swim swim swim I SAY is a local provider).

A child/toddler on Saturday got away from its parents and drowned in a neighbor’s pool in New Jersey. Unfortunately, I can’t imagine what these parents are going through; my heart goes out to them. I truly hope they don’t blame themselves; this was an accident. We all know child move quick and get away from us in a blink of an eye.

Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental deaths of children. 40% of the drownings occur when children were supervised, 39 % happened with no supervision of an adult and 18% were blamed on a lapse of supervision. During the summer, three-quarter of the death take place in a child’s own back yard.

Please remember if you own a pool, have a pool close by or will be near a pool to take certain precautions.

·         A backyard pool should have at least a fence 4 foot high surrounding the pool with a self latching gate

·         Parents/caregivers need to watch children in, near or around water at all times- not socialize, read, sleep or drink.

·         Adults should know how to swim themselves and know CPR

·         Remove all ladders when a pool is not in use and store them away

·         Purchase a wrist alarm system for small children (alarms if the wrist gets wet) and have child wear them if they are around a pool or you have a pool in your back yard even if you are not using the pool that day. What is $200 when a child’s life can be saved

I ask anyone reading this to pass it on to anyone who has small children. Please help any parent not have to go through a tragic accident that can be prevented.

Be safe and see you in the water!

http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

PORTABLE/KIDDY/WADING POOLS – WHAT YOU DON’T KNOW!

Most parents are so unaware that the popular portable, inflatable pools pose serious risk and danger to many children. Unfortunately more than 200 deaths of children under 12 are linked to a variety of above-ground pools. On average, one child drowns every five days in a portable above-ground pool.

Most individuals have no idea that child can drown in as little as 2 inches of water and only in a couple of minutes. In addition, very young children can drown in a 5 gallon bucket with only a few inches of water at the bottom. Children always need to be supervised when they are playing in or around a portable pool. Portable/ Kiddy Pools should be empty when not in use (every single time). Parents/caregivers need to watch children in, near or around water at all times- not socialize, read, sleep or drink.

I hope the above tips help reduce the fact that drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death of children. Please be safe this summer and see you in the water!

http://www.swimswimswimisay.com/

IS YOUR SUNSCREEN REALLY ALL ITS PROTECTION SHOULD BE?

Believe it or not, last year the sunscreen industries profited 687.5 million dollars in sales. But last week, the FDA released the much anticipated changes to sunscreen products that will forever change this industry. In the past, the SPF # referred to UVB rays only and not UVA rays. Now science believes UVA is more harmful than first researched.

 Below is a quick lesson on understanding the sun’s harmful rays, sunscreens, and what to look for on the labels when purchasing sunscreens.

·         UVA- accounts for 95% of sun’s Ultraviolet Rays

o   Penetrates the skin more deeply than UVB

o   Dominant tanning rays

o   Contributes to and may even initiate the development of skin cancer and premature aging

o   Tanning beds emit primarily and increase melanoma risk by 75% in youths

·         UVB- in the past is what the SPF number referred to

o   Chief cause of skin reddening and sunburn

o   Most significant between 10 am and 4 pm from April to October in the United States

o   Does not penetrate glass

·         SPF- indicates how long it will take for UVB rays to redden skin when using a sunscreen

o   SPF of 15- 15 times longer to redden sun then without protection(screens out 93% UVB rays)

o   SPF of 30 – protects against 97%  of UVB rays

o   SPF of 50 – protects against 98%  of UVB rays

New changes to sunscreens are as follows:

·         No sunscreen is permitted to promote their product prevents skin cancer

·         Must clearly indicate if they protect you against UVA

·         If a label has “BROAD SPECTRUM” -  cleared by the FDA to protect against BOTH UVA and UVB

·         A Broad Spectrum and SPF of 15 and higher can claim to reduce skin cancer and premature aging but must be used as directed and with other protective measures

·         SPF between  2 – 14 and NO BROAD SPECTRUM – can only claim to help prevent sunburn

·         SPF levels- capped at 50 for now but higher are proposed.

·         Labels CAN NOT read waterproof,  sweat proof or sunblock

·         IF labeled WATER-RESISTANT-the label must indicate if effective for 40 or 80 minutes while swimming or sweating.

This is a list of what ingredients sunscreens should contain or have on the label to protect you against UVA and UVB rays:

·         SPF of 15 or higher

·         Broad Spectrum

·         Stabilized Avobenzone, Ecamsule(Mexoryl), Oxybenzone,Titanium Dioxide, and Zinc Oxide

Guidelines for sun protection:

·         Do not burn

·         Look for shade between 10am and 4 pm

·         Cover up with clothing and broad-brimmed hats

·         Use the new labeled broad-spectrum(UVA/UVB) , SPF of 15 or higher sunscreens

·         Apply 30 minutes before going outside and reapply every 2 hours or immediately after swimming or sweating.

I guess the government finally stopped us from believing we were protected when we truly weren’t very well protected at all. The proof of these changes in a positive direction will come when we see how the skin cancer rates are affected. Time, will be the true test! Have a great summer and be careful in the water.