Oliver Momeni asked:


uitable modest swimwear that respects Islamic principals has now become a thing of the past for modern Muslim women.

The swimsuits previously available on the market were not designed for the Muslim women as they either allowed skin to show or were unpractical for swimming. The quote below which was published in the National Geographical News aptly describes how uncomfortable the swimwear designed for Muslimahs used to be, “As an active Muslim girl I found it difficult to participate in most sports because of all the excess clothes we were wearing. Also, the veil was very unpractical when playing sports”.

In a market that was relatively untouched by major sports brands, smaller companies redesigned appropriate bathing suits for Islamic women. They saw a great potential and design need in the market of swimwear for Muslim females. Only a few companies Worldwide are offering suitable modest swimwear.

The companies responsible for designing this product conducted extensive market research and held talks with many Muslim women to assist in the creation of high specification requirements for the design of the swimsuits. However, only a couple managed to create a modest, comfortable swimsuit that looks great and that most importantly, lets women swim with confidence, safe in the knowledge that they are respecting their Islamic beliefs.

The leading products on the market achieved this result by removing all the excess fabric that the previous swimwear provided like the veil, trousers and skirts and by incorporating everything into two main pieces of clothing: trousers and a matching long shirt with a hijab that serves as a close-fitting headpiece, which lays firmly on the head without slipping. These particular models are made of a high quality Polyester fabric which is water-repellent, Chlorine resistant, and also provides protection from ultraviolet rays. The advantage of using a Polyester material is that it has low water absorbency, dries fast and ensures complete stretch in all directions leading to total comfort whilst swimming or participating in aqua-sports activities.

The new Muslim swimwear collections available cater for all types of women and there is a wide selection to suit all tastes; floral, sporty, simple and sophisticated.

The availability of these new swimming costumes has solved the main concerns of Muslim women because they can now follow Islamic values and be comfortable when participating in water activities. Muslim women are now able to participate in water sports and compete in swimming events because of the wide range of suitable Islamic swimwear available to them. Women who prefer to limit their exposure to the sun are also turning to modest swimwear which is a clear sign that this product is not just being used by the Muslim population.

Having said all of this, the designers of these swimming costumes are not just being thanked by all Muslim women for introducing such a wonderful product into the market, but the big players are now looking to promote these products, especially those that are showing a very good hold on the Muslim swimwear market.

Taylor of Azizah Magazine says, “In another 15 years there’s going to be a sizable Muslim consumer market and lots of demand. I think we are where the Hispanic market was 20 years ago and today the Hispanic market is now a big consumer market.”

Arun Jain, a marketing professor at the University of Buffalo in New York State agrees and states that given the growth potential of the Muslim community in the United States, major sportswear manufacturers could be missing out on an opportunity to break into an emerging market. Furthermore, the market includes more than just Muslim women, as increasing numbers of western women comprising of Christians, Jews and other religious beliefs, do not feel the need to show off their bodies and are striving to be modest.



Swimming Lessons For Beginners

Bryan Soward asked:


I started playing ball at Rice one year before Larry.  My last known playing size was 6′3″ 245 lbs;  Larry was listed at 5′11″ and 210 lbs.  We were both fast and reckless on the field, talented, gifted, fundamentally sound, and strong.  One of us made it pro, the other one didn’t.

 When I was 4, my brother got a new Huffy for his birthday.  I was still on an old bike with training wheels.  Of course, I wanted to be on a new bike like my older brother.  My parents lived paycheck to paycheck and did not want to buy a new bike for a 4 year old that didn’t even know how to ride.  But I begged and pleaded anyway.  To no avail.  However, the silver lining to the “no” that I kept receiving was when my dad said, “Son, when you can ride a bike without training wheels, I’ll buy you a new bike.”

 This past week while on vacation, I was spending the day, like most days off at the pool in my backyard.  I’ve got 4 kids aged 12 ( Austin ), 10 ( Hunter ), 4 ( Taylor ), and 2 about to be 3 (Skylar).  Now, Austin and Hunter are capable of swimming and staying out of any trouble in the pool.  Taylor has recently learned and is very confident and capable in the water.  We have to keep an eye on her just to make sure she doesn’t get herself into a jam.  Skylar, on the other hand, is able to swim short distances of 10-15 feet.  He feels most comfortable near the edge of the pool.

 Throughout the week, I liked to challenge the older kids to underwater games like sitting on the bottom, standing on their hands the longest, walking on their hands, or simply, who can hold their breath the longest.  I noticed Skylar many times hanging on the edge and dunking himself underwater only to come up quickly after to catch his breath.  My wife, Tracy, said to me, “Look at him, he’s testing his limits.”  I agreed proudly.  As the days progressed, I noticed that he was letting go of the wall now, but would quickly grab it as he surfaced.

 Then, on Thursday, I was sitting in the hot tub enjoying the laughter and splashing with my wife, Tracy.  Without worry, I was keeping and eye on Skylar while he continued his plunge, release the wall, resurface and grab the wall.  So he continued.  Suddenly, he burst up through the water with enough energy to grab 100% of my attention.  He was smiling immensely and could not wait to catch his breath until the water ran off his face.  As he drew in his smiling breath through pool water running off of his head, he exclaimed, “DADDY!  I TOUCH THE BOTTOM ALL BY M’SELF!”

 Of course I praised him for his accomplishment thinking of how far he has come lately with his confidence and ability in the water.  He continued.  Then, I realized.  This boy had a goal!  He was excited because he had accomplished a goal!  I turned to  Tracy and asked, “when do we stop growing?”  My wife is an extraordinary person in regards to knowing what she wants and getting it.  She responded simply, that we hadn’t.  I said, “No, humans adults, why do they stop growing?”  She let me ponder that thought.

 Over the next couple of days, I thought about the fact that we don’t actually ever stop growing and learning.  It’s all about pain and pleasure no matter how young or old we are.  Either we experience enough pain to stop what we are doing or we experience enough pleasure to continue.  Pain, however, can stop us from taking risks.  Trying the unknown can be painful so why should we try that?  A toddler doesn’t have that choice.  HE OR SHE MUST CONTINUE TO TRY THE UNKNOWN!  It is in their genetic make-up or they will forever remain in that state.  Why should we, as adults,  stunt our growth by not trying the unknown? 

 During the past week, I have learned that my wife is superwoman.  I have experience kids peeing, pooping, fighting, arguing, whining, falling down, running through the house only to run into someone else or something, getting cut, getting bruised, getting thirsty, getting hungry, eating, and getting hungry and eating again before I could ever eat a meal.  In addition, my 2 year old has opened every board game owned in the Soward home (while I was napping) and scattered pieces throughout 2 rooms.  And, let me mention that he also personally opened a Smithsonian Institute Crystal Growing Chemistry Set owned by my 10 year old and managed to spread the powder throughout my study, foyer, hallway, and 2 bedrooms.  Believe me, he experienced a little pain to remind him not to do that again!

 As I look back through the week and thinking of Skylar’s accomplishment in the pool and explorations in the home, it makes me realize this is simply the process that God intended.  This is how we grow.  Sometimes we are praised for trying something new.  And there are times where we are hurt.  No matter what the day brings, we are always growing and learning.  The difference betweent the champions and losers is that champions apply the lessons learned.

 Several years ago, I was speaking with my former teammate Larry after a UT-Rice football game.  Larry now plays for the New England Patriots and was off that weekend.  He has 3 Superbowl rings.  He has been playing pro ball since 1996.  He was undrafted after his college career ended.  However, he was invited to attend the training camp for Jimmy Johnson’s Miami Dolphins.  This was Jimmy Johnson’s first year coaching the Dolphins and was well know for his strict style.  After the first pre-season game, Coach Johnson told reporters that only 2 people have made the team thus far, “Dan Marino and Larry Izzo.”  You see, Larry was on the kick-off return team, not known for its glamour, and had knocked down an opponent running at him full speed.  He got up and knocked down a second opponent.  In the world of professional football and all of its talent and athleticism, only the spirt of a warrior and the heart of a champion could accomplish this.

 Larry reminded me in our conversation that “only if I hadn’t gotten into the doghouse (with a former college coach)” I could have made it.  Knowing what he knows now, I had the talent and the recklessness that needed to be had in order to be, at least,  a special teams standout.  It was bitter-sweet.  Part of me wishes that he would have said that I wasn’t talented enough to make it rather than blaming it on the “doghouse.”  You see, I put myself in that “doghouse.”  At some point I committed my life to being what I called a ”fatally-flawed hero.”  However, no one saw me as a hero.  I drank and partied away my career because I was scared to set and miss a goal.  I was no longer the 4 year old boy that was told, “When you can ride a bike, I’ll buy you one,” and learned to ride a bike without training wheels in less than a week.  I was the guy with the talent, that the people with the heart wish they had the talent of.  Several years ago, before Larry and I spoke I had come to realize this and turned my life around.  It took me 12 years to get up and seek another opponent to knock down.   Every now and then, I am reminded to have the spirt of a warrior and the heart of a champion.  This week I was again by a 2 year old.

 Like Larry, Skylar knocked down one goal last Thursday by touching the bottom of the pool and by Sunday had actually sat on the bottom of the pool while I watched him through my goggled eyes smile at me underwater because he had just knocked down his second opponent. 

 We face adversity each and every day.  That is the Devil’s plan.  God’s plan is for us to get up, show up, knock ‘em down, and knock ‘em down again.  You have a goal and that is to be the best in all that you do.  In faith, family and work, be the best that you can be.  There are opponents in your way.  Find out who or what is in your way and knock them down one at a time.  But first, knock down the opponent in your mirror named Fear.   Without taking that one out, the rest will simply run by you.  Stand and believe on the words written and repeated more than any other throughout the best selling book ever written, “Fear Not.”

BryanSoward.com



Singapore Singapore Swimming Classes

Divyasena asked:


Most of us may not have swimming pool in our back yard, so it’s obvious that when we go out for a vacation it’s a rare treat to splash about in the toasty warm water of an outdoor swimming pool. Outdoor pools are most excellent place enjoyed in the sunshine, and to that end, there could be no better place to lie back in the crystal clear waters, staring at the dappled silhouette of a amazing swaying palm tree and let your cares float away, than in everybody’s preferred holiday destination, Florida.

It is not necessary that every hotel would have a pool. If in case you choose to stay in the private luxury villa, which has pool you would most definitely be spoilt with not only stunning accommodation but also with your own private pool. However, with all things watery, our common sense should be applied. This in itself is not a harmful thing, except maybe when it comes to pool safety.

Fortunately, Florida state law has stepped up in to lend an assistance hand by requiring rental villas with private pools to follow some very basic rules to make sure the well being and safety of their guests. Naturally, children are always be supervised by an adult in and around the pool area. But in addition to that, you would find that your rental villa’s pool is also obviously marked in terms of water depth, stating both the shallow and deep ends.

Child alert pool alarms are very necessary to be fixed onto any door leading directly from the property into the pool area. This alarm would scream out if opened by a kid to alert parents of the imminent danger. A clear set of “Pool Rules” would also be stated at the poolside that you should read carefully before dipping your toes into the water.

Floatation devices such as water wings and inflatable rings are much admired with children, but it must always be remembered that these are not actually life saving devices. They are just floating toys. Just because your kid is wearing water wings, it does not mean that it is secure to leave them to play in or by the pool. Rough play and running on the pool floor is also a big “No No”, due to the clear dangers of slipping and diving is also dejected, as most pools only have a maximum depth of 6 foot.

To sum up, if treated with esteem, and common sense is used, your vacation swimming pool could be one of the highlights of your trip. Remember that small children learn by example, so if you as an adult could teach them to safely get pleasure from their swimming experience, it would be a lesson that would never be forgotten, and which eventually could one day save their lives.



Swimming Lessons For Beginners

Margie Remmers asked:


THE STORY

Keep your elbow up. Reach and glide. No, keep the arm straight out, don’t let it fall down. Fingers in the water first. Keep your hand cupped like a spoon–not a fork, not a knife, a spoon. Rotate your hips. Keep the body stiff. Your whole body should tilt to the side. Rotate your hips. Don’t separate your legs. Keep them straight. Breathe every third stoke. Keep your elbow up. Reach and glide. Rotate your hips. Rotate your hips. Rotate your hips!

I thought I knew how to swim.

I mean, I love the water. I always have. I took swimming lessons when I was a kid and spent summers at the pool. I took the “tread water ’til you feel like you’re gonna die” test and passed with flying colors. For a time I even thought I was going to be a marine biologist and swim with the whales for a living.

In fact, it was partly my love of swimming that made me choose to train for a triathlon in the first place.

You see, I was taking a life achievement home study course, and one of the exercises was to write a list of 101 things you want to do before you die. As I thought about what would really give me a sense of accomplishment, a marathon popped in my head. Boy, if I could finish a marathon, that would really be something. Trouble is, I don’t like to run!

At the time, I had a friend who was training for a triathlon. I love to swim, I thought, and I do like to bike, too, so I wrote down a triathlon instead.

On my first day of swim training, I confidently got in the water. I set out to do my first front crawl across the lane and…I promptly injured my shoulder.

What? That never happened when I was a kid! What had I done wrong?

My investigation into my shoulder injury quickly led me to the conclusion that I did not, in fact, know how to swim.

Countless articles and YouTube videos revealed that in order to avoid injury, you must swim in a certain way. You must keep the elbow up. Your fingers must go back in the water first. You must draw your arm in front of your body, not to the side.

So I humbly began the process of “re-learning” how to swim.

And boy was it was frustrating. So many things to think about all at once! I could hardly keep it all straight. After awhile I was able to do it correctly when I went slowly, but when I sped up, I fell back on my old habits and just flailed in the pool.

I constantly had to remind myself that if I wanted to be successful, I must learn the principles of success–in this case, the principles of hydrodynamics. It would do no good to continue my old habits in the swimming pool. If I did, I would continue to get injured, I wouldn’t be able to go as far, and by not being as efficient, I would lose steam quickly, and I would not be able to complete the race.

THE LESSON

Just like in the pool, the principles of success are part of the fabric of the Universe. It does no good to continue in our own way–we will only get injured or work harder than necessary to attain our goal, if we attain it at all.

No, the best course of action is to understand the Universal laws that govern what we are trying to do and work with them to our best advantage.

If I understand hydrodynamics–if I understand how to position and move my body in the most streamlined fashion–the law will work with me, rather than against me. The law will actually push me on toward my goal, instead of holding me back.

The laws of success are the same. In fact, Wallace D. Wattles, in his classic book, “The Science of Getting Rich”, wrote:

“There is a Science of getting rich, and it is an exact science, like algebra or arithmetic. There are certain laws which govern the process of acquiring riches; once these laws are learned and obeyed by any man, he will get rich with mathematical certainty.

“The ownership of money and property comes as a result of doing things in a certain way; those who do things in this Certain Way, whether on purpose or accidentally, get rich; while those who do not do things in this Certain Way, no matter how hard they work or how able they are, remain poor.”

The other day I was reading one of my triathlon training books and the author mentioned a technique that I had never heard of before. In fact, it seemed completely counterintuitive to me. It was not what I had been taught–not what I had seen other people doing. It did not make any sense.

Skeptical, I decided to try it for just one lap and see what happened. To my amazement, I was able to shave off FOUR strokes from one 25 yard length. Reducing my stoke count was something that I had been working on, but no matter how hard I tried–no matter how fast I tried to go–I had not been able to reduce it by even one stroke.

My success in the pool that day was the direct result of putting aside what I personally believed and learning to work with the laws of hydrodynamics, and still today I am amazed at how far I can go and how effortless it seems when I apply the correct technique and “go with the flow.”

You really can have what you want. But whether you are learning to swim, working on becoming rich, or even figuring out how to bake a cake, you must stop fighting for “your” way of doing things and look instead for the Universal principles that will float you to your goal the easy way.

TAKE ACTION

Are you frustrated with the results you are getting in some area of your life? Take action!

Today’s action step: Find someone who is successful at doing what you are trying to do.

Too often our tendency is to stick with people who are in the same struggle we are. If we’re trying to lose weight, we often hang out with others who are also trying to lose weight. If we’re trying to make ends meet, we hang out with people who are doing the same. But in both these cases, it is the blind leading the blind. It may make us feel more comfortable, but it rarely helps either party reach their goals.

Instead, decide today to get in contact with someone who has already lost the weight or who has already made the money or who has already done what you are wanting to do. Odds are good that they will be willing to help you–or they will be willing to find someone else who can.



Swimming Classes

Matthew J James asked:


Swimming lessons are an essential part of a child’s education, and whether they learn to swim at school, or at private lessons, being able to swim increases confidence, and can become an enjoyable and healthy total fitness hobby.

For adults who have never learnt to swim, or for those who haven’t been swimming for a long time, why not learn to swim today? Swimming lessons aren’t just for children.

Here are 10 reasons to book swimming lessons, and learn to swim today

1) Swimming lessons, and ultimately being able to swim brings many benefits, such as feeling safe near water, and enjoying being by the swimming pool and feeling confident enough to try other water sports perhaps whilst on holiday. Imagine being able to water ski, or sail a boat, or go sea fishing. Even just being on the beach or investigating rock pools requires a certain level of water safety, especially where children are concerned.

2) Many swimming pools and swimming clubs offer swimming lessons to children as young as 3. Your child is likely to enjoy learning to swim, and will experience a great sense of achievement as they progress from the first moments away from the side of the pool, swimming without armbands, and gaining badges and certificates. Swimming lessons for children are usually around 30 minutes long each, and parents can often spectate.

3) If you didn’t have swimming lessons as a child, you may think that you have missed out on being able to swim, but this needn’t be the case as swimming lessons aren’t just for children. Many clubs have at least one swimming pool, so that you can incorporate your swimming lessons into your fitness routine. If your children are having swimming lessons at school you might want to take them swimming outside of school. If you haven’t swum for many years and you don’t feel confident, you may want to consider organising your own swimming lessons, so that you and your children will benefit.

4) Swimming sessions are often available for parents and children, so that children can get used to the water and build up their confidence before embarking on swimming lessons. Water skills are invaluable, and can be learnt at a very early age. Having fun in the pool is the most important aspect of these sessions, and the emphasis is on playing with toys and games rather than actually learning to swim.

5) Swimming provides many health benefits and a good low impact cardio vascular workout. Swimming is often recommended for those people who are recovering from injury or an operation, as well as those who are unable to undertake other forms of exercise. Swimming can be used as part of a rehabilitation routine, or as a water workout total fitness programme by itself.

6) A water workout is an exercise regime that is carried out in the pool without a swimming instructor. Instead swimming lessons showing exercises and required equipment are on cards so that the swimmer can work through the exercises at their own pace.

7) If you are a confident swimmer, then maybe you are considering swimming lessons to improve your technique. Expert swimming instructors can iron out any posture or stroke issues, and help you swim better. These lessons are longer, and it will be expected that the swimmer is already able to swim.

When choosing swimming lessons, it is important that you and/or your child feel comfortable with the environment and the swimming instructors. If the pool is dirty and has cracked tiles, then maybe you will think that the standard of swimming lessons provided may not be too high. Some people prefer their swimming lessons to be taught by their own swimming teacher, rather than be in a group. Having the instructor’s full attention can lead to quick progress, and any problem areas can be addressed straight away, but there are no others to swim with. If you feel that you or your child would learn best this way, why not see if your swimming pool offers one to one individual swimming lessons.

9) Swimming lessons should ideally lead to certification, such as the ASA awards, so that there is record of progress. Progression leads to confidence and shows how far they have progressed. Also, if you change club, the new instructors will be able to see the ability level and ensure that you are in the right group.

10) A swimming school should employ CRB checked, ASA qualified instructors who are skilled and experienced in providing swimming lessons for all different ages and abilities. Having the capability to communicate effectively is important when teaching both children and adults. The swimmer wants to progress, and the teacher wants their pupil to progress.

Swimming lessons can provide you and your child with new found confidence and skills which could save a life, and will last for life. As well as being a fantastic form of exercise, swimming is great fun and a rewarding hobby. Why not find out more about swimming lessons today, and see what you’re missing out on?



Swimming Lessons For Beginners

Chuck Jaymes asked:


You already know that owning your own swimming pool provides a great deal of enjoyment, especially for children. Did you also know that drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death for children ages 1-14?

Many individuals with children who build residential swimming pools have no idea how serious the problem of children drowning in swimming pools is. The following statistics provide shocking evidence of what is often referred to as the silent killer:

• The Center for Disease Control reports that 782 children up to age 14 died from swimming pool drowning in 2003

• Drowning is consistently the leading cause of accident related death for children under 5 years

• Each year over 300 children under age 5 drown in residential swimming pools

• Of all age groups, children ages 1-4 have the highest drowning death rate

• 5%-20% of children who survive near drowning suffer severe and permanent disability

That drowning is often called the silent killer is highly accurate. An astounding 70% of children who drown in home swimming pools have their parents nearby, unaware of trouble. Many times there are no splashing sounds or cries for help. It can happen dangerously fast; a child can drown in the time it takes to answer a phone.

It isn’t just children who are prone to drowning. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention & Control, in 2003, there were 3,306 unintentional fatal drownings in the United States. This figure does not include boating related drownings. If a child has been drowning, taking speedy action is the key to successful recovery. Rescuing the child quickly and restarting breathing immediately are vital to survival. The difference between normal recovery and permanent brain damage can be a matter of seconds.

To help keep your children and guests safe in your indoor pool or spa, there are certain fundamentals you should follow to ensure a fun and safe time for all.

Basic Swimming Pool Safety Precautions:

• Learn CPR. This is invaluable if you own a swimming pool

• Absolutely NEVER leave young children unsupervised near a pool or spa

• During social gatherings, appoint and rotate “Designated Watchers”

• Keep a life saving flotation device near the pool at all times. (Do Not use the device as a substitute for supervision)

• Install a fence or barrier that is at least 4 feet tall completely around the pool (It is estimated that widespread use of pool fencing could prevent 50% to 90% of pediatric pool near drownings and drownings)

• Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be above the reach of small children

• Vertical fence slats should be less than 4 inches apart to keep small children from squeezing through

• Use a pool safety cover

• For indoor pools, door alarms that are unreachable by small children

• Do Not expose young children to spas or hot tubs as they are susceptible to overheating

• Keep all glass containers away from the pool area

• Emphasize the need for constant pool supervision to babysitters

By employing these methods, you will greatly reduce the risk of accidents in your swimming pool or spa. An effective pool fence or barrier prevents children from getting under, over or through. Even though it’s not possible to drown-proof your children, swimming lessons help instill a sense of respect for the water by understanding the potential danger of water.

Remember, there is no substitute good supervision. By following proven pool safety precautions, you and your family can get full enjoyment from your pool safely. These helpful hints are brought to you by the concerned staff at Swimming Pool Dehumidifiers LLC.



Swimming Lessons

Robert Caruso asked:


pools are a source of so much fun for the family. But accidents and drownings can occur quickly with devastating result. That is why it is so important to follow these swimming pool safety rules.

* Never allow children to swim alone without adult supervision even if children have had swimming lessons. Be sure to supervise all activities when children are near the pool. Keep in mind that it only takes a few seconds for a child to fall into a pool.

* Provide a barrier to the pool by having a removable pool fence installed. Make sure that the pool fence is at least 4 feet high. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. And be sure to position latches out of the reach of young children.

* Position tables and chairs far away from the pool safety fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.

* To avoid having to leave children unattended when receiving a telephone call, keep a telephone in the pool area. And keep emergency numbers near the poolside phone.

* At get-togethers designate someone as the pool watch guard. Adults can rotate this duty.

* Make sure that all children above the age of 4 attend a certified swimming class. If this isn’t possible, instruct them in basic flotation and life saving techniques.

* Start setting pool rules and talking about pool safety when children are very young. Good pool rules include no pushing and no running around the pool. The buddy system rule should be taught to older children: Don’t go near the water by yourself.

* Do not leave the pool open. And to prevent children from getting to the pool, keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure.

* Install an alarm on doors that lead to the pool area.

* Make sure that the cover of the swimming pool is completely lifted over the pool. Never keep the cover partially open because children may become entrapped under it. In addition, do not let your children or pets walk over the pool cover.

* Always have a life saving flotation device handy near the pool.

* Keep rescue equipment by the pool, and make sure all family members know where this equipment is located.

* Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

* When not in use, remove steps or ladder to above ground pools.

* Keep electrical appliances away from the pool.

Following all of these safety rules will help minimize the chances of injuries and drowning occurring in your swimming pool. Your pool will be a source of fun and enjoyment rather than a source of worry.



Swimming Lessons For Beginners

Dr Paddy Swan asked:


The Health and Safety Executive, the UK Regulator of Health and Safety have published a report on the death of 10 year old Max Palmer on an educational visit in 2002.

The HSE is analogous to the OSHA and has a remit to investigate accidents and to prosecute under safety law.

Max was killed in a “plunge pooling” incident in the Lake District in Cumbria in England’s beautiful Lake District. The Lake District is popular with schools for outdoor activities for English schools and Max was killed during one such trip.

The weather was poor, the river was in spate and the water was very cold and arrangements were unsatisfactory.

This report summarises the very detailed investigation into the circumstances around the incident by the HSE and the Cumbrian Police.

The investigation subsequent to the accident led to the prosecution and jailing of the teacher in charge of the visit for one year on a manslaughter charge.

HSE highlights in its report the fact that the report is produced to: “Prevent further tragedies, not to blame.”

The Legal Position

In the UK reponsibilities are apportioned as follows between Schools, Employers(usually Local Councils) and Teachers as follows:

*Employers are responsible for ensuring the effective management of Health and Safety.

*Teachers, Heads and Managers are responsible for the Health and Safety of pupils both when they are on school premises or when they are offsite on authorised school activities elsewhere.

This responsibility is actually written into national teacher’s conditions of service and is also part of the Common Law “duty of care” owed by one person (or body) to person not to act, or fail to act, so as to avoid causing harm.

So what are the causes of this incident and what are the lessons which can be learned from it?

Causes:

The Investigation identified two main causes for the tragedy:

1. The actions of the teacher in charge of the activity, before and during the incident.

Amongst a range of shortcomings we can highlight the following:

The teacher who led the visit joined the school in 1998 as Head of Geography and claimed to have “Mountain Leader Award”, in fact subsequent investigations showed he had not successfully completed this award.He was also inadequately trained in First Aid.

His actions contravened normally accepted good practice and whilst teachers from another school staying at the centre actually cancelled activities because of local conditions he allowed water based activities to go ahead in water temperatures of 47 degrees Fahrenheit.There was an inadequate and no ongoing Risk Assessment.

The levels of supervision were inadequate. The apparent ratio was 1 Adult to 5 Children but actually neither of the other adults were experienced and so the level was actually 17:1.

The Emergency Response was inadequate when the emergency actually occurred the teacher tried to save Max but quite quickly succumbed to the cold and when he got out of the water took no further part in the rescues.

The protective devices needed were not available, there was an attempt at rescue with a “rope” made of knotted towels.However,it was not until a pupil was sent to fetch a rope from the activity centre being used by the trip that the alarm was raised.Teachers from another school brought emergency rescue equipment and were praised in their conduct by the report.

2.The weaknesses of the safety management system which allowed the trip to go ahead and an unsuitable leader to be in charge of children doing a high risk activity in difficult environmental conditions, without adequate precautions.

A range of safety management shortcomings were identified but whilst these may have contributed to allowing the incident to happen they did not cause the incident.

The key point is that Health and Safety needs to be managed effectively both by the employer and by the school.

Defects which allow The fact that a teacher could be appointed as a leader when not adequately qualified or competent to lead, is highlighted by the report.

What are the Lessons to be learned ?

The main lessons can be summarised as follows:

1. Leaders of outdoor activities in schools need to be competent and diligent always putting the safety and wellbeing of the children first.The Employer and the School need to determine who will check qualifications and competence.

This means that ALL the adults who accompany a visit need some form of training and any Leader needs to be competent for the activity they are supervising.Competent when used by Regulators generally relies on Lord Cullen’s definition in the “Piper Alpha Report” and means “sufficient knowledge skills, experience and qualities” it also means “appointed in writing”. A leader will be a person who can carry out a meaningful and relevant risk assessment on the spot and considering local conditions because they “know” the activity planned.

This doesn’t mean that every “leader” i.e adult going on a trip has to be a mountaineer or an expert skier… people will have different levels of competence but all adults on a trip should have at least basic visit and safety training.

A suitable qualification for newer teachers and classroom assistants which covers visits and the range of School Safety is the College of Teachers Certificate of Educational Studies - School Safety I.

This can be viewed at www.swaneducation.co.uk.

2.Visits should always take place under the aegis of “good practice” and schools need to be sure that they either have “in house” or have access to suitable personnel to deliver this.This means that a list of approved visits is maintained and a procedure is set up to accept/reject new “activities” proposed.

To see what “good practice” looks like in the UK for school visits this is set out in the following free documents:

DfES - Guidance on Educational Visits (1998) and it’s 2002 supplements available at http://www.teachernet.gov.uk/wholeschool/healthandsafety/visits/

The Scottish Executive Education Department has also issued relevant guidance - “Health and Safety on Educational Excursions” which can be available at:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/education/hsee-00.asp

3. Schools need to have effective management systems in place with suitable policies to ensure that proper planning and preparation of visits goes ahead under clear policies and procedures.

The Glenriddings Report highlights some important ones:

Approval,Parental Consents, Bringing External or Related Children on Visits, Supervision on Visits,Medical Conditions, Swimming, First Aid etc.

4. Favourable comments from Inspectors (in England and Wales OFSTED) about educational visit programmes are no warranty that the visits or practice are safe and are certainly no substitute for thorough Risk Assessment.

5 Headteachers can delegate safety functions(NB not responsibilities) but need to establish clear lines of accountability. Every School should have a person responsible for Health and Safety.For a way to distribute Safety Management see http://www.swaneducation.co.uk - College of Teachers Accredited Training Certificates of Educational Studies - School Safety II). This includes an Option on Educational Visits, and others on School Risk Assessment,School Safety Training and School Safety Committee Operations.

6.All Educational Visits need to be operated through the continuing assessment of risk. Risk Assessments need to be relevant,have a clear regard to supervision levels and consider how the party would respond in case of an emergency. The two key words here are relevant and continuing. The report clearly showed that the Leader was not competent to make a Risk Assessment, so any Risk Assessment done by him was flawed.The Risk Assessment did not take account of the local conditions so it was not a continuing, ongoing or dynamic Risk Assessment. Some other shortfalls identified included the levels of supervision and the impact that this, and the lack of emergency planning had on the outcome of theincident.

7.The Employer and the School need to clarify between them who supplies “Generic” who “specific” safety training to avoid confusion.There also needs to be clarity on who checks qualifications and competence as this problem

8. Governors and School Boards are “informed friends” of the school and Governors carry out a role analagous to non executive directors in companies.The lesson to be learned from the report is that Governors need to be trained as to what questions need to be asked and Head teachers need to be sure that the Governors are asked for approval well before any visit is planned. The Governor’s role is to probe the logic and value of the trip and to act to check that all precautions are in place.

9.Monitoring and audit provide mechanisms whereby the compliance with School and Employer Safety Systems can be checked. In addition to normal in school monitoring by Govenors and the Head, it is also recommended that field monitoring of visits should be undertaken.

In conclusion, the report on this tragic incident gives all of us in Education food for thought and in many cases one hopes a timetable for action.

It is impossible to manage safety without a system to manage within but I do welcome HSE’s support for distributing some of the safety management functions.

HSE in the report also drew attention to the delivery of major and important documents to Head teachers without a support infrastructure.

Pieces of paper are NOT a system. Any system of safety management needs to be “owned” by the school.

Heads get hundreds of documents year all of them are important but they need time and/or tools to manage effectively.

This is why I produced a Headteacher’s Safety Management Toolkit….

I hope that it and shortish briefing papers like this which I provide free from time to time will help provide some focus and some of that support.



Swimming Lessons For Beginners

Catherine Spelling asked:


The Twelve Days of Christmas is one of the most famous Christmas carols ever written. It has been sung for a great many years, and is known the world over. To most it is a delightful hymn, but it was originally created with a very serious intent. In England between the years of 1558 and 1829, it was illegal to practice Catholicism in public or private. It was essentially a crime to be Catholic in England during those years.

The Twelve Days of Christmas was written to help preserve the traditions of the Catholic faith during the years that Catholicism was banned in England. The song is steeped in symbolism, and the fact that it is so well known throughout the world is a testament to the faith of the followers of the Catholic doctrine. The symbols contained in the song are as follows:

1st verse - “True Love” refers to God.

2nd verse - “2 Turtle Doves” refers to the Old and New Testaments.

3rd verse - “3 French Hens” refers to Faith, Hope, and Charity.

4th verse - “4 Calling Birds” refers to the Four Gospels or the Four Evangelists.

5th verse - “5 Golden Rings” refers to the first five Books of the Old Testament.

6th verse - “6 Geese-a-laying” refers to the six days of creation.

7th verse - “7 Swans-a-swimming” refers to the seven sacraments.

8th verse - “8 Maids-a-milking” refers to the eight beatitudes.

9th verse - “9 Ladies dancing” refers to the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit.

10th verse - “10 Lords-a-leaping” refers to the Ten Commandments.

11th verse - “11 Pipers piping” refers to the eleven faithful apostles.

12th verse - “12 Drummers drumming” refers to the twelve points of the Apostle’s creed.

I love this song. It is, by far, my favorite Christmas carol. I had no idea about the symbols contained in the song, until I googled the song lyrics one afternoon. I find it very interesting that a song we all know so well could contain so many hidden meanings. I would never have guessed that it was anything more than lovely Christmas carol. It’s always nice to learn something new, especially about the wonderful celebration of Christmas. I hope you learned something, too. Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!



Swimming Lessons

Triathlete asked:


A triathlon swim is among one of the really popular sports today. Although it requires immense patience, time, energy, dedication and determination to prepare for it, but once it has been experienced and accomplished, you realize that sweating out for it really is worth it.

Once you are firm upon the decision that you want to pursue this great sport, the very first thing that you need is the triathlon gear. This is the very first and the most important step that you need to take before making a plunge head on. So, here is a quick list for the equipment that you will need for an effective triathlon swim.

Typical equipment that you will need for the swim are swimming goggles, nose clip, cap and a wetsuit or swim suit. Usually, the participants are expected to wear swimming caps that are provided by organizers of the events. For safety purposes, these caps are generally of very bright colors and may be of various colors for signifying different categories.

The ordinary wetsuits that are designed for the purposes of snorkeling or other sports are not apt for a triathlon swim as they do not provide optimum benefits. The sleeves are restrictive of free arm movements that prevent you from making comfortable swim strokes. The swimsuits for a triathlon are customized as per your very own individual needs. They include of a more pliable and softer rubber around your shoulder area. They may be even sleeveless to provide you with utmost comfort. These swimsuits also feature longer zippers along with occasional ankle and wrist zippers for facilitating quick removal during transition. They have smooth delicate surfaces for reducing the friction caused by water and allow a great speed through water.

Once you have availed the entire triathlon gear, you need to proceed further and take another major step that is to learn the skills. To excel in the sport, you have to learn the proper methods and techniques of breathing, body alignment, arm position and the kicks. It will take some tie to master these skills and so you need a lot of patience. It is only through being adept at the basic skills that you can win applauds in the sport.

In order to become an expert, you can get enrolled in some lesson classes so that your skills are honed and you become an expert. The trainers will guide you towards the right methodology to attain your triathlon swim goals. Most of the trainers will tell you not to log laps at slow paces as it develops in to a poor habit. So, you must always avoid slow stuff.

Even if you are a fitness freak, you must remember that you have to take ample care of your body and muscles in order to keep them in good working condition. You may work towards improving your fitness but without any injury risks. You must realize that your overall body strength is very important in a triathlon swim and thus needs to be maintained properly.



Adult Swimming Lessons