On Sunday morning, Rob Whelan posed a question on the Milford Patch Facebook page:
Question: why do they not allow any type of "floaties" including swimmies at Milford beaches? Thanks!
Whelan added that his daughter had to take her swimmies off in Sunday. "The lifeguard walked over and asked," wrote.
In an email, Recreation Supervisor Bill Garfield explained the policy:
The prohibition on children’s floaties and inflatables is designed to enhance the safety of swimmers by ensuring the lifeguards have clear sight lines, by reducing the opportunities for swimmers to get into distress, and to encourage parents to provided better supervision of their child in the water.
Children’s “swimmies” can help children experience freedom in the water (under the direct supervision of a parent or instructor) and help non-swimmers overcome the fear of the water. However, when used at the beach they provided a false sense of security to both the child and the parent. This can led to over-confidence, where the swimmer ventures out into deeper water and gets into trouble. Lifeguards can become distracted by children using “swimmies” and end up focusing on those with floatation aids and not on the entire population in the water.
Rafts and other inflatables have been known to develop leaks leaving non-swimmers in distress; children can easily fall off rafts, tubes, etc., as a result waves or winds leaving them in jeopardy; users of these items can also drift in deep water or tire while trying to retrieve the item from deep water. Most importantly these items obstruct the lifeguard’s view of the water and as mentioned earlier cause them to focus on these swimmers and not on the entire population in the water.
What do you think? Should the lifeguards have clear sight lines of all those swimming at the beach? or should floaties and floatation devices be allowed?
Guards should be spread out over the shore line. This covers a larger area and they are trained to use signals to alert of dangers.
Lori G. Chaisson: "YES!!" Maria Crocco: "Absolutely...." Michelle Beaulieu: "Floaties, or what you're calling swimmies, are the inflatable bands you secure on your child's upper arm when they're in the water. They give the child a false sense of security. I worked as a lifeguard for five years - don't use them. And especially not in an ocean/sound environment, where wave action can push the floatie down your child's arm(s) where they then come off. Then what? Take a mom's and tot's swim class to get your kid acclimated with the water, and get them swim lessons." Matthew Collen: "Then you grab them so they don't go under. You should be watching your kid in the water, especially if they can't swim." - Comments left on the Milford Patch Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MilfordCTPatch
But "Floaties" are inflatable objects which if punctured or the air plug comes loose then these objects are useless for personal flotation. My kids used a styrofoam bubble strapped around their waist. My daughter passed her deepwater swimming test at age 2, the youngest in my communities history, but on my boat she wore the PFD. When I moved to CT, everyone invited on my boat, when on deck wore an inflatable CO2 USCG appvd PFD supplied by myself. My wife and I wore automatic inflatable harness vests.for use both day and night. Finally, Flioaties are for learning how to swim and NOT for use as a safety device.
You are absolutely correct, but all swimmers and guardians should also take precautions to be seen by lifeguards and if they can't, then don't swim there. You have an obligation to protect yourself.
I know it's a tough job, but if they don't do their jobs, lives can be lost." - Comment left on the Milford Patch Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/MilfordCTPatch
Bottom line: life guards need to be observant and guard lives on the the whole beach.
The summer before I learned to swim, I almost drowned in a pool surounded by 8 - 12 guards. They could not distinguish between a kid going down for the second time and a kid just playing in a pool full playful kids. I was lucky a swimmer accidentally pushed me to the pools edge and I hand over hand pulled myself along the gutter until I reached a ladder. All this occurred while a guard was within 6' of me with a 10 foot bamboo pole in his hand. I was about 8 years old at the time. My son learned to swim at age 5 while his younger sister passed her deep water swimming test at age 2. For me it was a priority that they learned to swim.
But half the folk taking the poll say Floaties pose no danger. We make laws and rule to protect the stupid. Such as seat belts, helmets, cell phone texting and Floaties. As previously mentioned, on my former boat ALL guests aboard had to wear a USCG approved PFD. I provided every adult with an inflatable type (my wife and I wore inflatable harness vests) If darkness came then I supplied everyone with a harness and safety leash so that all were attached to the boat while aboard. This was strictly enforced even if they were US Navy SEALS. On my boat I was responsibile for their lives as well as a happy time aboard.