Keeping A Close Eye: Local Lifeguards, Teachers Share Swimming Safety Tips
By: Homa Bash
Updated: July 3, 2012
The sun is out, the pools are full and it seems like all is right with the summertime world.
But in the blink of an eye, that clear water can quickly turn dangerous.
"A lot of it is just the excitement of being at the pool and jumping in water that may be over their head," explained Michael Talerico, Aquatics Director at the Redbud YMCA in Abilene.
Cheyenne Graham is a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA and said her reaction at the first sign of trouble is always the same.
"Honestly, what I'll do, even if its a reaching assist, I'll jump in and help them swim," Graham said. "Because you don't know if the tube will reach them or if they can swim."
"It's about surveillance," Talerico said. "It's about being able to understand what a person who is swimming looks like and what a person who's in trouble looks like."
From watching over dozens of kids -- to watching an actual dozen.
Shekima Dudley is a teacher at Kids of Faith Daycare, out at the pool with seven- and eight-year-olds Tuesday afternoon.
"Always keep count, check who's with who, always make sure they're doing a good job of following pool rules," Dudley said.
And from watching a dozen -- to just one.
"It only takes a second for anything to happen," said Lamonte Douglas, who was watching over his niece as she swam in the YMCA pool.
Even though Douglas worked until 7 a.m. and hadn't gotten any sleep yet, he kept a watchful eye over the nine-year-old Tuesday morning.
"I know they have lifeguards, but a lifeguard isn't going to watch a kid as if their parent would watch their own," Douglas said.
But in the blink of an eye, that clear water can quickly turn dangerous.
"A lot of it is just the excitement of being at the pool and jumping in water that may be over their head," explained Michael Talerico, Aquatics Director at the Redbud YMCA in Abilene.
Cheyenne Graham is a lifeguard and swim instructor at the YMCA and said her reaction at the first sign of trouble is always the same.
"Honestly, what I'll do, even if its a reaching assist, I'll jump in and help them swim," Graham said. "Because you don't know if the tube will reach them or if they can swim."
"It's about surveillance," Talerico said. "It's about being able to understand what a person who is swimming looks like and what a person who's in trouble looks like."
From watching over dozens of kids -- to watching an actual dozen.
Shekima Dudley is a teacher at Kids of Faith Daycare, out at the pool with seven- and eight-year-olds Tuesday afternoon.
"Always keep count, check who's with who, always make sure they're doing a good job of following pool rules," Dudley said.
And from watching a dozen -- to just one.
"It only takes a second for anything to happen," said Lamonte Douglas, who was watching over his niece as she swam in the YMCA pool.
Even though Douglas worked until 7 a.m. and hadn't gotten any sleep yet, he kept a watchful eye over the nine-year-old Tuesday morning.
"I know they have lifeguards, but a lifeguard isn't going to watch a kid as if their parent would watch their own," Douglas said.
