Sarah Lauren's Water Safety HomePage
By: Sarah Lauren
Hello, I am Sarah. I am the Managing Director of Sarah Lauren
TM Productions. We make educational videos, and educational
music CDs. Thank you for taking a few moments to stop in for a visit.
Allow me to extend you a hearty welcome to my Water Safety
Homepage. You can learn more about me by reading through my resume,
and also, you can refer to my opinion on Water
Safety.
Purpose:
I think it is very important for young children to be aware of at least several of the
safety rules in order to fully enjoy water activities. That is the purpose of my
"Water Safety" video. Children enjoying themselves with minimal risk. Children
using good practices, and thusly, setting the winning standard.
Scope:
Three safety devices I continually promote:
The use of water safety shoes
The use of personal floatation devices (PFD)
The use of swimmers eye goggles.
I found that it does take some getting used to when kids first use these devices.
It’s similar to getting used to wearing gloves, bicycle helmets, or even automobile
seat belts. Often, the user initially resists the change, but after a short break-in
period, they eventually feel incomplete without wearing them. I’m giving you an
opportunity to impart upon your clients a legacy, let them bring home a few new good
habits that they can share with their friends, and other members of their family.
Basis:
I remember my brothers once had no motivation for wearing water safety shoes. They had
all sorts of excuses for not wearing them. After awhile I finally succeeded in getting
their buy-in. Now it is second nature for them. And who knows how many times they have
avoided cuts on their feet, or slips that could have ended in bruises, because they were
protected. Swimming in a pond, or lake is taking a calculated risk. This is because there
is virtually no control over the debris that enters the environment from inconsiderate
people. It is unfortunate, but even in roped off areas, the accumulation of
uncontrolled materials can occur.
The use of PFDs is also keenly encouraged. As a practical approach to using PFDs, we
do not wear the PFDs on our bodies all the time. We do, however, keep them very near.
Usually we keep their strappings looped through our swimming suits, or held in hand.
Children will soon understand that towing a floating PFD does not slow them down all
that much. We like to sit in the PFDs as though they were a saddle. In any case, there are
always several PFDs on location whenever we go swimming. Mom likes to stand on the square
type 4s. Try it sometime, it is a real challenge to maintain your balance.
The swimmers glasses you will see my brothers wearing are not just so that they can
see well underwater. The main purpose of the swimmers glasses is to provide physical eye
protection. Many times, we have encountered underwater branches, and sticks floating below
the surface, just waiting for an unsuspecting swimmer to have an unwanted encounter. More
commonly, children playing with abandonment have mishaps due to an inadvertently misplaced
finger, or even a toe.
I think a really proactive organization would naturally want to promote these three
devices to their patrons as highly desirable options. Some food for thought, would be to
have an ample supply of some of the many well known brands of these relatively inexpensive
devices on hand in your supply canteen.
Video:
The video opens with Mike, Dan and Myself preparing to disembark upon our hearty
venture with our seaworthy sailboat Wind Dancer. We
discuss elements pertaining to the different types of PFDs, and the use of water safety
shoes. Following this, is a brief digression into the various components of our sailboat .
We continue with some more digression of Windy, and scenic views of the pond. This
introduces a counterpoint that allows the audience sufficient time get into the video, and
yet develop a sense of progression. After arriving at our swimming hole, I demonstrate my
technique of surveying the bottom for rocks, debris, and wildlife, using a snorkel mask. Dan then uses his special tactical maneuver for entering the water, followed by his unique and persistent methodology
for climbing back aboard the boat. The proud fellow has somehow forgotten his safety
goggles. What a guy. Now that this error has been rectified, all is saved. We once again
digress slightly by including a brief vignette involving our Springer Spaniel, Perkey. Little children just love this part of the video as it
is usually the first time in their lives that they have seen how well a dog can swim. Mike
and Dan then take the lead by demonstrating a few of the ten safety rules, through their
remarkably cunning, but, obviously fake dialog. Finally, after
the audience is totally absorbed, and submissive to my every whim, I roll out the ten safety rules from the comfortable vantage point of my trusty inner
tube. Moses never had it so good.
Summary:
Seriously, it is my opinion, after watching my three brothers, that the main challenge
we have to overcome, in order to be effective in promoting water safety, is bravado. Young
boys and girls, feel they are invincible, and that safety devices symbolize constraint,
weakness, and mortality. Our job is to overcome this cultural sense of bravado, by
promoting good habits, through enlightenment. Your task would be to reinforce the safety
rules to everyone, through example, and education. And my part would be to provide an
entertaining, memorable message, that can be continually reinforced. As a team, I feel
that we can undertake a successful campaign to minimize the risks associated with
swimming. Let us all have a fun filled summer.
By, by for now. You can Email me at my
location in Connecticut.
sincerely,
Sarah