Geoff Dawson President, The Pool Safety Resource, Survival Swimming Skills Instructor, Red Cross Certified, Water Safety Instructor

 
Dear Parents,
 
Swimming Pool Safety has been my passion since we moved to our own pool home in Longwood over 10 years ago. Like many parents, we purchased a mesh fence for our pool when our son Philip became mobile enough to get himself "into trouble".
 
One afternoon as I was brushing the pool, Philip, at 14 months old decided to join me and before I knew it bumped up on the inside of the fence which toppled him into the water. I was there when he went in and was able to pull him out moments later - none the worse for his little dive. It was however the wakeup call we needed.
 
My wife Anna insisted that we enroll him in a Survival Swim class right away. I have to admit that I was skeptical - but after just a few lessons we could already see amazing results - and what’s more, while on vacation he impressed all the parents in the pool with his swimming skills.
 
I was so impressed with his progress that I decided I would become a swim instructor myself and start to contribute to the solution. In the seven years I have been a swimming Instructor, I have taught over 600 children to swim.
 
In 2005, I established the Pool Safety Resource so I could dedicate myself full time to the issues of pool safety - in the pool, teaching infants, in the community and supplying the products which could help prevent children ever reaching the water un-noticed.
 
In 2009, I certified as a Red Cross Water Safety Instructor and started to teach basic stroke lessons to small groups of children. Besides the basic stroke skills the Red Cross program instills a safety conscious attitude into parents AND children. Every year, before the swim season starts I visit daycare facilities in the area and talk to children between 3 and 5 years of age about pool safety – I typically reach out to over 600 children per year!

I am a member of the Central Florida Drowning prevention Task Force, which exists to promote water safety for children in Orange, Seminole, and Osceola counties. I am able to bring industry knowledge to this group of first responders, health departments and other agencies. www.stopadrowning.com
 
I know from experience that every security system has a weakness. There is no 100% failsafe system available but by layering the systems we use we are reducing the risks considerably.  Please remember there is simply no substitute for consistent adult supervision when children are in or near water.