The cerebellum is the dense mass of synapses and nerves connecting the brain to the spinal cord. It is the "movement center" of the brain. Movement has been shown to stimulate brain development.
Bryan Crane presented the works of Swin for Life Foundation which promotes childhood brain development and water safety with swim/water training to youths as young as 5 weeks.
Bryan stressed that there is no such thing as a child-safe pool or a water-safe child. Steps must be taken to protect our most precious resources. Bryan's water safety tips are broken into three groupings:
- Safer Water
- Safer Kids
- Safer Response
Safer Water
- Install fences with self-latching and locked gates.
- Install a gate and pool alarm.
- Install pool covers.
- Eliminate attractions to the water.
- Supervise all pool activity.
Safer Kids
Help children develop a neural memory of how to save themselves.
- Enroll children in swim lessons.
- Teach children self-preservation strategies: blowing bubbles, turning and grabbing the wall, pushing down and standing up, never approaching the water unless accompanied by an adult.
Safer Response
- Learn CPR
- Provide poolside rescue equipment.
- Learn how to swim.
- Install a poolside phone with an emergency number list posted.
Drowning is SILENT!
73% of drowning victims were never expected to be around a pool.
98% of drowning accidents involve a breached barrier.
Only 2% of drowning accidents involve trespass.