Summer Holiday Swimming Tips

1. Be sun safe

No one wants to remember a summer holiday because of the sunburn they received. Keeping you and your children sun safe is always an important step to remember, whether you are in the pool or sitting at the beach.

The timeless rule of slip, slop, slap, seek, and slide is always key.

• Slip on a long sleeve shirt or rash shirt
• Slop on sunscreen (at least SPF30 or higher) and wait 20 minutes before getting in the water to let it dry
• Slap on a hat that will shade your face
• Seek shade when possible and keep out of direct sun for long periods of time
• Slide some sunglasses on to protect your eyes from glare.

2. Keep hydrated

Heat stroke and dehydration can both be life threatening, especially for younger children. In the Australian heat, it’s vital that you ensure you and your family drink plenty of water to reduce your risk.

A great summer holiday tip is to bring some icy poles in addition to your water bottles, these are a great way to ensure your kids are hydrating after a dip in the pool. You can make your own icy poles at home with a mold and ensure your kids have a healthy treat.

Some common symptoms of heat stroke or exhaustion can be:

• Fatigue
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Headaches
• Cramps
• Fainting

If you or your children experience heat stroke, you should always seek medical help immediately.

3. Always actively supervise

Even if your child is a strong swimmer, you should always supervise and pay close attention when they are in the water. To ensure your child’s safety, you can follow some basic water safety rules:

• Always be wary of rip currents at beaches. You can see signs of a rip current when there is a break in the waves and foamy water.
• Swim within the red and yellow flags when at the beach as lifeguards monitor these areas.
• Never jump into rivers or lakes when you don’t know the depth of the water. Rivers and lakes also pose the risk of debris and sharp objects underwater so you should always be wary of unfamiliar areas and never swim alone.

4. Bring some inflatable pool toys

Floatation devices are not just practical, but they can add a lot of fun to any pool. Your kids can have hours of fun with pool floats, and you can even play games such as raft races across the length of the pool, or a game of volleyball. 

Best of all, pool floats are easy to deflate and pack so you can take them to any holiday destination pool or even use them in your own pool.

5. Teach your kids to swim

Lastly, if your kids are at home looking for something to do and a way to keep cool these summer holidays, they can learn to swim by taking swimming lessons at the local pool. Over their summer break your children can learn vital water safety skills and have lots of fun with other children. In Australia swimming skills are important for everyone to learn and what better time to jump in and sign up for swimming lessons then during the holiday break. Find your nearest Rackley Swimming and book your first free lesson today!