Would you let your child go to this?

[loraxc]

DH and I have already reached a decision, but I'm very curious about what others think.

DD is attending a week-long day camp run by our town. They are taking the kids on a field trip to a local natural swimming hole. There are about 15-20 kids, ranging in age from entering 1st grade (DD is this age) to entering 5th. There will be plenty of adults/older teens (6+) on this trip and they have a system for watching the kids (one person on shore counting heads, one person stationed where the shallow area gets deep, several people in the water who are not playing but just supervising, along with junior counselors to meet kid needs and play).

However, no one is certified as a lifeguard. There is no lifeguard on duty, either.

Would you let your child go? Would you let them go if they wore a PFD the whole time?

[mamazee]

For me, it would entirely depend on whether my child could swim and had some level of comfort in the water. I wouldn't expect them to be able to watch someone who had no swimming ability at all in that scenario, but if my child could even doggie paddle with confidence, I'd personally be OK with it.

[AllyRae]

Nope, unless they could guarantee he'd be in a life jacket the entire time he was near the water (he has asperger's and has bolted in a pool from the deck before...just walked right into the deep end like it was still solid ground. He can't swim.). But, before I sent my kid off, at least one and preferably more than one adult supervising must be certified in first aid/cpr and they must know the symptoms of dry drowning for me to be comfortable with it.

And in fact, I did let my DS do this last year as a 5 year old...the camp was run by his school so he was with his teachers, and they went swimming at a lake all the time.

[JollyGG]

Nope - Absolutely not. Finding someone who is lifeguard certified is not exactly hard. I would even be comfortable if they had someone with lifeguard training but no current certification. But I would not be comfortable without anyone with lifeguard training.

It sounds like they have plenty of people to attempt to prevent problems and to identify problems but they are missing anyone trained to deal with a problem were it to occur. Rescuing someone from the water is a simple enough task once properly trained to do so. But, without proper training it can mean more people in danger as untrained individuals attempt a rescue. In many areas EMT are not even allowed to enter the water as they do not have lifeguard training.

What sort of safety supplies will be available to the adults and teens? Will they even have the appropriate supplies to help a drowning or injured child?

I am one of the least overprotective parents I know and I would not allow my child to attend.

[Alyantavid]

Does anyone supervising know cpr? If not, then no I wouldn't send my kid.

This is exactly why my kid doesn't attend the local Boys and Girls Club. They take the kids swimming weekly with only 2 teens supervising. I'm just not comfortable with that. My 8 year old knows how to swim, but he isn't experienced enough to go swimming in a place other than a pool without close supervision.

[zeldamomma]

I agree with the pp. I would only send a child who I was fairly sure would be safe in the water. I would probably give my kid a little water-safety lecture before they went too, but would let them go.

[loraxc]

My child can doggie paddle but is not a strong swimmer, FTR. They apparently maintain different area for swimmers and nonswimmers. (Nonswimmers mst stay in the shallow area.) However, I think I'd be more concerned if my child was a "swimmer," actually.

In case this changes anyone's opinions, the deep area of the swimming hole is very, very deep. Like 50 feet.

[greenmamapagan]

I voted obligatory other, only because DD is not ready at four and I can't see that she'll be ready at five to go on such a big adventure without us. She's uber-attached. So nope, not unless I was there in which case her safety would be my responsibility so it's a non-issue.
Like a PP, I'm also curious about the first-aid training of the leaders. Here teachers etc must have certain certificates (but not neccessarily be life-guards) in order to be allowed to take kids to water.

[ollyoxenfree]

I voted no. I would consider my child's swimming ability and risk-taking attitudes and whether there were CPR/First Aid certified adults in the group, and that might sway me to say yes.

But on the whole, no, it doesn't sound too safe. In part because of the adult child ratio - almost 1:4 (6:20) is still pretty high for a water area.

[loraxc]

I am 90% sure the counselors are first aid and CPR-certified, yes.

[Linda on the move]

Originally Posted by Alyantavid

Does anyone supervising know cpr? If not, then no I wouldn't send my kid.

I was thinking the same thing. All lifeguards must be current in CPR, but lots of other people are as well.

If they are trained in CPR AND you trust:

* their systems to notice if there is a problem with a child,
* their ability to get the child out of the water (which is part of what lifeguard training is about)
* their ability to appropriate handle discipline issues (which in the water are safety issues),

then may be.

Originally Posted by loraxc

I am 90% sure the counselors are first aid and CPR-certified, yes.

ask.

It's a one day course, and any organization who doesn't require it isn't taking your child's safety seriously. I had to take it to be a girl scout leader (not to take kids swimming, just to be in doors with them making friendship bracelets and such)

I'm really surprised that organizations take kids swimming without lifeguards. Not only does it show a lack of proper concern for safety, it's a law suit waiting to happen.

For me with my kids, it would really depend on the ages of my kids at the time. When they were small, no way. They are big now and have both swum competitively so I'm past worrying about it. They will be the lifeguards soon!

[pianojazzgirl]

I voted "other".

I would definitely NOT let my child go if she was not going to be in a life jacket the entire time. And if I wasn't sure that one of the adults was going to enforce her wearing the life jacket I would say no as well (because my dd might decide not to wear it if it was up to her). I would say yes if I trusted that my dd would be made to wear her life jacket AT ALL TIMES when she was any where near the water.

FWIW my dd would be one of the youngest in the group (she will be entering 1st grade, but is the youngest kid in her class), and she doesn't know how to swim at all. My response would probably be different if my dd was older and was very comfortable in the water. Even then I would check about whether the responsible adults have CPR certification, etc.

[jeteaa]

At 6 to 7 yrs old NO. At 9 or 10 maybe..... Swimming in a water hole w/ no lifeguard an MANY kids around is too risky!

[MJB]

I would let either of my kids go, and they are 4.5 and 7.5 (going into K and 2nd). They can both swim.

[Carhootel]

Originally Posted by mamazee

For me, it would entirely depend on whether my child could swim and had some level of comfort in the water. I wouldn't expect them to be able to watch someone who had no swimming ability at all in that scenario, but if my child could even doggie paddle with confidence, I'd personally be OK with it.

I voted yes because my child loves water, and would know how to swim. If I felt confident with the system they had in place to watch younger kids I would let my lo. It would also depend on the size/depth of the swimming hole. If it was somewhere we frequently went and I felt comfortable with ds knowing then I'd be even more likely to let him go

what did you and your dh decide?

[journeymom]

Originally Posted by loraxc

In case this changes anyone's opinions, the deep area of the swimming hole is very, very deep. Like 50 feet.

Five feet or fifty feet, doesn't matter if her feet don't touch the bottom. AND, depending on circumstances a person can drown in a shallow puddle. Doesn't need a lot of water.

However I'd probably let my dd go.

[ramama]

I voted no under the circumstances described. My DD is also going into 1st grade and although she can swim, she is also not a strong swimmer yet. I myself am a swimmer of average ability and I wouldn't feel comfortable supervising just my own two DDs in that kind of situation. Lifeguard training is a must. If there's a way that you can purchase her a life jacket and in some way make absolutely 100% certain that she would be wearing it (my DDs LOVE their lifejackets!) then I may reconsider.

[Evan&Anna's_Mom]

Both of my kids are strong swimmers and have been since long before 1st grade. They are good at listening to and following directions and are experienced daycampers. Given all of that, I would be absolutely fine with letting them go. If they weren't swimmers but were good about directions I'd let them go. If they weren't trustworthy at following counselors instructions then I would definitely not allow them to go on this or any other field trip.

[Cujobunny]

No, I wouldn't. And I would totally trust my gut instinct on this one.

[LauraLoo]

I voted no. It would probably be just fine, but I just wouldn't want to risk it.

I live in an area with a lot of natural and man-made lakes. There is a popular suburban lake, and every year there are drownings. Every year. There is another popular lake on the other side of town. While there have been drownings at this lake, there has been 1 drowning in the last 7 years. The difference? The second lake has a life guard staff in addition to some pretty strong rules about the parents keeping kids age 10 and under within arms reach at all times.

I think it even gets to be a harrier kind of thing if this is a public place where there will be other kids swimming along with this group. It doesn't take long for a kid to go under and not get noticed in time. The busier the swimming hole is, the worse the situation.

Any chance you could tag along on the field trip to provide an extra set of eyes on your dd?