Celebrate Learn To Swim Day
While you may not have celebrated this in the past, the third Saturday in May is actually National Learn to Swim Day. This is a day set aside to recognize the importance of teaching children to swim and to remind parents about the importance of reviewing water safety rules before the busy summer season starts.
With
more people having private pools, and most children having access to
public pools, lakes, oceans and even streams, rivers and other bodies
of water, teaching kids to swim is not just an option, it is a decision
that can save a child's life.
Lessons There
are a lot of different organizations that offer lessons for children of
all ages. Mom and Dad may want to take lessons with their younger
children as it builds confidence and make it a family activity.
The
YMCA, as well as many of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, offer
low-cost options in many communities. Some schools and community
centers also offer swimming and tend to offer reasonably priced lessons.
Make it Fun It
is important to make swimming a fun activity. Kids may naturally be
nervous about water, so encourage your children to splash about in
shallow water, play with floats and water toys, and ride along when
adults are swimming.
There
are fun swimming games that instructors or parents can use to encourage
kids to focus less on the possible fears and more on the fun of being
in the water. You can place small "treasures" on the floor of the pool,
gradually moving them into deeper water. Kids can dive for "treasure"
and Mom and Dad can cheer them on. Planning races or even throwing
floating balls into the pool and allowing the kids to swim to collect
as many as possible are all great options.
Parents,
Grandparents, and other family members should interact with the child
in the water at the depth the child is comfortable with. Gradually, and
supporting the child, move to deeper water and provide encouragement,
support, and reassurance until the child is ready to swim on his or her
own.
Choose The Best Car Seat For Your Youngest Passengers
Safety
is your No. 1 concern when driving with small children. The proper car
seat is crucial. Here’s how to choose one that protects your most
precious cargo:
• Check the safety label. Make sure it meets or exceeds federal safety requirements for carrying children.
• Be cautious about used seats.
A previously owned seat that’s more than six years old may not be safe.
Look for missing parts, cracks, or other signs of wear and tear. Call
the manufacturer to ask about durability and recalls.
• Get the seat that fits your child.
Infant seats are designed for children from birth to about 20 to 35
pounds. Some can be converted to hold a child up to about 40 pounds.
Otherwise, you’ll need a front-facing safety seat capable of holding
children until they reach 40 pounds, and after that a booster seat can
be used until they hit about 80 pounds. Keep careful track of how big
your children grow.
• Learn the safety belt test.
When your child is about 13 years old, he or she may be ready to ride
with just a seat belt. Do the child’s knees bend at the edge of a
regular car seat? Does the belt ride low on his or her hips? Does the
shoulder belt lie on the child’s collar or shoulder? Does the child sit
comfortably with seat belt and shoulder strap correctly fastened? If
any of the answers to these questions are no, keep the child in a
safety seat until he or she has grown sufficiently.
Maintaining A Healthy Heart
The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body, which means that keeping it healthy is crucial to our overall health.
One of the best tips to maintaining a healthy heart is to follow a lifestyle that is beneficial to the heart, one which includes exercise, regular checkups with a physician, not smoking, eating healthily with a variety of different kinds of food consumed in moderation, and taking necessary medications as and when appropriate.
It
is also a good idea for people to be aware of their numbers like
cholesterol, weight and blood pressure, and their risk factors.
People
who have already had difficulties with their heart need to focus on
recovery and rehabilitation, and to comply with all of the advice given
by their health care provider.
The
simplest advice for keeping a healthy heart is to exercise and keep a
low sodium diet that stays away from processed meats, fatty foods and
fruit and vegetables in cans, which contain a good deal of salt.
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