The 4 Essential Skills for Swimming Safely

Swimming skills involve more than just knowing how to swim in a pool. These skills can also help you build self-esteem, lower the risk of drowning, and increase the likelihood of enjoying water activities for a lifetime. Read on to discover the top four skills for safe swimming.

1.Breathing

Breathing is a critical factor in underwater comfort and endurance. You can reduce the chances of panic attacks or drowning by fully exhaling. Practical breathing skills help you move efficiently through water by allowing your muscles to function correctly.

This swimming skill also helps with energy conservation, leading to relaxed and smooth swimming motions. Unnecessary strains can occur when you hold your breath improperly, but proper breathing conserves energy and minimizes body tension.

By managing your carbon dioxide and oxygen levels adequately, you can swim for longer periods and extended distances without losing control in the water. Controlled breathing will keep you calm and focused and reduce the odds of blackouts.

2.Floating and Kicking

Kicking and floating can enable you to stay afloat and conserve energy while swimming or generate forward movement strategies that lead to vital streamlined body positions. When floating and kicking, you’re not only easing your transition in the water, but you’re also maneuvering through it without the risk of sinking.
Improving your buoyancy and stability and obtaining propulsion will make it easier to stay above water, conserve energy, and position yourself accordingly, signaling for help if necessary with less difficulty. In addition to better body awareness, floating and kicking can lead to better stroke development.

3.Understanding Your Limits

This skill can prevent accidents by lowering the odds of exhaustion, panic, and overexertion. You’ll go into the water with more mindfulness of your abilities, making informed decisions such as where and when to swim. In the event you become tired or experience other challenges, understanding your limits helps you maintain control and make decisions or changes safely.
Whether you’re a beginning, intermediate, or advanced swimmer, you should never push yourself beyond your capabilities or comfort zone. For example, if swimming in open water or deep areas isn’t within your skill set, don’t go into these situations without the training and confidence to complete each activity. Understanding your limits allows you to avoid dangerous situations, whether you swim in a neighbor’s saltwater pool, a lap pool, or another type of water environment.

4. Water Awareness

It’s crucial to develop awareness skills inside or outside of the water. Whether you’re entering the water, treading, or exiting from it, you need to know what hazards exist and how to avoid them. Some of the most common dangers are submerged objects and currents.

Water awareness courses can equip you with the ability and knowledge necessary to navigate water effectively and safely. The more awareness and respect you have for the water, the more conscious you’ll be of the necessary steps to enter, tread within, or exit safely. 

If you’re ready to build a pool of your own so you can enjoy the benefits of swimming, reach out to the experienced professionals at San Diego Pools. We’re the pool builder San Diego homeowners have trusted for more than four decades. Give us a call today to learn how we can create the perfect pool with just the right features for you and your family.