Water Competence and Safety

What Does It Mean to Be Water Competent?

Water competency is a way of improving water safety for yourself and those around you through avoiding common dangers, developing fundamental water safety skills to make you safer in and around the water, and knowing how to prevent and respond to drowning emergencies. Water competency has 3 main components: water smarts, swimming skills and helping others. 

Water Smarts

Take these sensible precautions when you’re around water (even if you’re not planning to swim):

• Know your limitations, including physical fitness, medical conditions.
• Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present.
• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and the water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
• Swim sober.
• Understand the dangers of hyperventilation and hypoxic blackout.
• Know how to call for help.
• Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in, such as:
  • River currents.
  • Ocean rip currents.
  • Water temperature.
  • Shallow or unclear water.
  • Underwater hazards, such as vegetation and animals.

Swimming Skills

Learn how to perform these 5 skills in every type of water environment that you may encounter (such as in home pools, oceans, lakes, rivers and streams):

 

1. Enter water that’s over your head, then return to the surface.
2. Float or tread water for at least 1 minute.
3. Turn over and turn around in the water.
4. Swim at least 25 yards.
5. Exit the water.
   
   
   
   
   
   

Helping Others

These actions will help your family avoid emergencies – and help you respond if an emergency occurs: 

• Paying close attention to children or weak swimmers you are supervising in or near water.
• Knowing the signs that someone is drowning.
• Knowing ways to safely assist a drowning person, such as “reach or throw, don’t go”.
• Knowing CPR and first aid. 
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Summer Activities

 Summer is quickly approaching and your preschooler will need some at home summer activities. Here are few easy hands-on activities that combine play and learning. These encourage imagination, gross motor skills, and cooling off! Great activities for the whole family.

Water & Sensory Play

• Ice Melt Treasure Hunt: Freeze small plastic toys or coins in a Tupperware container filled with water. Give your preschooler spray bottles, droppers, or warm water to "excavate" the toys.
• Sink or Float: Fill a shallow bin with water. Let your little one gather random, waterproof household items (spoons, blocks, leaves) and guess whether they will sink or float before testing them in the water.
• Shaving Cream Writing: Spread shaving cream over a flat tray or outdoor table. Let your child practice tracing shapes or writing their name with their fingers, which is fantastic sensory and fine motor practice. 

Gross Motor & Movement

• Chalk Obstacle Course: Draw an extra-large track on your driveway or sidewalk with sidewalk chalk. Include areas to hop like a frog, balance on a straight line, spin in circles, or slither like a snake.
• Sponge/Splash Ball Targets: Draw large circles with letters, numbers, or simple shapes on the driveway using Sidewalk Chalk. Have your preschooler throw wet sponges or splash balls to land on your requested target.
• Balloon Tennis: Blow up a few balloons and use fly swatters, paper plates taped to popsicle sticks, or just their hands to keep the balloons off the ground. 

Imaginative Play

• Living Room Campout: Gather blankets, pillows, and chairs to build a Living Room Fort. Bring in books, flashlights, and a picnic-style snack to enjoy in their new campsite.
• Toy Wash: Fill a bucket with soapy water, toss in some dirty plastic animals, vehicles, or blocks, and give your child toothbrushes or sponges to scrub them clean. 

 Hello good morning last week we talked about weather some of our classes made cloud art and also did ice painting here is some information on weather with summer coming and more chances for storms thank you have a great day! 

Key Aspects of Storms

• Thunderstorm Stages: Developing (updraft), Mature (rain, wind, lightning), and Dissipating (downdraft).
• Lightning & Thunder: Lightning is an electrical discharge between clouds or cloud-to-ground; thunder is the sound caused by rapid air expansion from lightning.
• Severe Weather Risks: Tornadoes can produce winds over 200 mph; flash floods are the #1 cause of thunderstorm-related deaths.
• Hurricanes: Large, rotating tropical systems that form over warm, 79°F+ ocean water.
• Winter Storms: Include blizzards with high winds and freezing rain that causes ice storms. 
  
  

Safety & Preparedness

• Seek Shelter: Go indoors immediately when you hear thunder.
• Stay Informed: Monitor alerts for flood, tornado, or wind warnings.
• Stay Away from Water: Flooded areas and coastal waters are dangerous during storms. 
  

Fun Ways to Learn

• Experiments: Create a "tornado in a jar" with water and dish soap, or a "cloud in a bottle".
  

 

this week children learned about outdoor safety and the importance it is to drink lots of water when playing in the sun  also to use sunscreen and bug spray here are a few tips for safety 

Key Outdoor Safety Measures

• Sun Protection: Apply sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher) 30 minutes prior to going outside and reapply every 2 hours. Use wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses to protect eyes and skin.
• Hydration: Ensure kids drink water frequently, especially during hot weather and active play.
• Water Safety: Use the "water watcher" system (active, undistracted supervision) near pools, lakes, or tubs. Use life vests for boating.
• Gear & Apparel: Helmets are essential for biking, skateboarding, or scooters. Wear closed-toe shoes to protect feet.
• Playground Safety: Use playgrounds with shock-absorbing surfaces (sand, mulch, rubber). Check equipment for hazards like broken parts or sharp edges.
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  Visibility: Dress children in bright colors to make them easier to spot in crowded areas or woods.
• Bug Protection: Use insect repellent to protect against bugs and ticks. 

Activity-Specific Tips

• Walking/Hiking: Teach kids to stay in sight and, if lost, to "stay put" and not wander.
• Wheels (Bikes/Scooters): Ensure helmets fit properly and obey traffic safety rules.
  
• Nature Exploration: Teach children to never eat berries, mushrooms, or plants found outside.

 Hello good afternoon 

this week we learned about fire safety the fire department  came with the fire truck and the children got a fire hat and got to see inside of the fire truck they had so much fun! 

The 5 Steps of Fire Safety Management

1. Identify Fire Hazards: Spot potential ignition sources (heating, electrical equipment) and fuel sources (paper, flammable materials).
2. Identify People at Risk: Identify vulnerable individuals (elderly, disabled, children) and account for building occupants.
Evaluate and Control Risks: Remove or reduce the identified hazards. Install smoke detectors, maintain fire extinguishers, and create safe escape routes.
Record, Plan, and Train: Document all findings and create an emergency evacuation plan. Ensure all occupants are trained on the plan and how to use equipment.
Review and Update: Regularly review the risk assessment and safety procedures, updating them as needed. 

Key Emergency Actions (If a fire starts)

• Keep calm and alert others immediately.
• Use the PASS technique for extinguishers (Pull, Aim, Squeeze, Sweep) if trained and the fire is small.
• Evacuate immediately via designated, clear escape routes.
• Stop, Drop, and Roll if clothing catches fire.
• Call emergency services (911) once safely outside.