Irish parents not confident in swimming abilities
A study has revealed that over half of Irish parents are not confident swimmers, and that in the case of a child drowning, one third admitted that they would not be able to save them.
The figures have emerged after researchers at baby and toddler swim school, Water Babies, surveyed over 1,000 Irish parents to find out their capabilities and confidence when it came to the water. Four percent of the parents surveyed said they were afraid of the water, while five percent said they never learned how to swim. A total of fifty-nine percent of parents said they were not confident in their swimming skills, and thirty-eight percent said they would not have the ability to save a child in a water difficulty.
A spokeswoman for Water Babies, Carol McNally said of the recent findings:
“A drowning incident can happen silently and instantly, in as little as one inch of water and in less time than it takes to answer the telephone or tend to another child.” “Sadly, a primary factor in cases of fatal drowning is down to the initial shock, when a toddler or child falls into the water.”
McNally went on to say that by familiarising babies to water as early as possible will help to stifle fear in a child if an accident was to occur:
“We passionately believe that by introducing babies to water as early as possible, they’ll be less likely to experience fear if they do fall in.”
“With progressive training, babies can be taught life-saving skills very early on such as turning onto their backs or, following a sudden submersion, swimming to the nearest solid object.”