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With the arrival of the Thanksgiving holiday, most of us are enjoying the process of identifying all the blessings in our lives.  From happy families to the roofs over our heads, the possibilities for gratitude are endless.

In staying true to the holiday, the team at Premier Aquatics Services wanted to share some of the things we are thankful for this year.

The Premier Team:  Many work environments have colleagues, but at Premier, we are blessed to work each day with friends.  Every one of our staff members understands the value of a team, and together, we get to enjoy each day of work.

Giggles, Cheers, Smiles, and Accomplishments:  Whether through our swim team programs or our swim lessons, we get to be a part of joyful moments for both children and adults.  With each achievement, we get to hear our favorite sounds – the giggles and cheers of success – and see our favorite sights – accomplished smiles and laughter.

Happy Families and Individuals:  On a daily basis, it amazes us to see how many happy people walk through our doors.  To say we value our clients would be such an understatement; we are thankful to work with some of the best individuals Southern California has to offer.

Teaching Lifesaving Skills:  Through our health and safety classes, we teach our clients skills that can save lives.  Four of our clients (that we know of) have used those skills to directly save someone else’s life.  We are unbelievably grateful to be able to share those skills and contribute to the wellbeing of our community.

Doing What We Love:  Somewhere along the line, someone said it’s not work if you love what you’re doing.  Our company is driven by passion, and while some days may seem longer than others, we get to do what we love everyday.

Doing MORE of What We Love:  This year has brought significant opportunity for Premier Aquatics Services; we feel truly blessed to be expanding our services in the upcoming year, so we can address more of our community’s needs.

From our “family” to yours, the entire team at Premier Aquatics Services wishes you a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

“Clear!”  We’ve all seen the dramatic hospital situation on television or in the movies when a doctor shocks a patient’s heart back into rhythm.  However, what happens when someone experiences sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital?

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 890 deaths from coronary heart disease happen outside of the hospital each day.  They report that between 2001 and 2002, there were 1216 deaths from heart attack, 354 from electric shock, and 267 from asphyxia inside the workplace, and up to 60% of those victims could have been saved if an automated external defibrillator (AED) was readily available.

What is an AED?

An AED is a portable device that can check a victim’s heart rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electric shock through the chest to the heart.  In the event of a sudden cardiac arrest, this shock can stop an irregular rhythm and allow a normal rhythm to resume.

AEDs have a built-in computer that reads and analyzes a victim’s heart rate through adhesive electrodes.  After calculating whether defibrillation is necessary, the computer’s electronic voice may tell the rescuer to press the shock button on the AED.  On the other hand, the computer may discover that defibrillation is not necessary, in which case certain AEDs will provide live corrective CPR feedback as needed.

Why is an AED Important?

According to the American Red Cross, sudden cardiac arrest is one of the leading causes of death in the U.S., with more than 350,000 cases each year; defibrillation is the only effective treatment.

It is estimated that the chance of survival is reduced by 8-10% for each passing minute without treatment. Keeping in mind that the average response time for first responders after 9-1-1 is called is between 8 and 10 minutes, proximity to an AED can truly mean the difference between life and death.

Who Can Use an AED?

AEDs are so valuable in our society because nearly any adult can be trained to properly use them.  They are specifically designed to be used by non-medical personnel, including police, fire fighters, security guards, life guards, athletic trainers, and other lay rescuers.  Ultimately, “the Red Cross believes that all Americans should be within four minutes of an AED and someone trained to use it.”

Where to Purchase an AED?

Premier Aquatic Services is a proud vendor of the Zoll AED Plus and other great Zoll products. The AED Plus is the first and only full-rescue AED that provides Real CPR Help® for rate and depth of chest compressions. With real-time feedback, the rescuer can provide the best manual CPR possible in a sudden cardiac arrest (SCA). The AED Plus also guides rescuers through the complete Chain of Survival helping all SCA victims, not just those who need a shock.  View a demo of the Zoll AED Plus.

Where to Get Properly Trained?

At Premier Aquatics Services, we believe in preparing all of our clients with lifesaving skills.  From child swim lessons to American Red Cross AED classes, we provide training all year long.

We know how important it is for you and your family to know what to do in the event of an emergency.  While younger children should be taught how to call for help, older teenagers and adults can enroll in AED classes alongside their parents.  Click here to learn more or enroll in AED training classes today!

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Swimming has a myriad of benefits for all children, but learning to swim is particularly beneficial for children with special needs. Generally speaking, there are three major goals for a swim program designed for special needs children:

1. Boosting physical activity levels
2. Developing self-confidence
3. Teaching a life saving skill

Physical Benefits of Learning to Swim

For children of any ability level, the pool can be a fun and relaxing environment to exercise their bodies.  With each kick or stroke, water resistance helps to build muscle tone and strength.  Even more important for children with disabilities, the process of learning to swim helps with balance, coordination, and the development of motor skills.  As children learn to float and then move through the water, they are isolating muscle groups and learning how to coordinate different motions in order to achieve a physical goal.

Additionally, for special needs children with movement restrictions, the pool can help improve range of motion.  Buoyancy reduces the child’s body weight by 80%, providing an environment for restriction-free (or at least restriction-less) movement.

Emotional Benefits of Learning to Swim

There is nothing more rewarding than the look on a child’s face when he or she is thinking, “I did it!”  Two of the primary goals of any childhood swim program are to develop self-confidence and build self-esteem.  Many children experience an exponential sense of achievement when learning to swim because, as they learn new skills, they continue to explore their boundaries and discover new abilities.

Additionally, swim lessons designed for special needs children work through a progression that is ultimately aimed at getting the child to function in a group of other high-functioning special needs children.  With each stage of the progression, children are exposed to new social interactions, and they benefit from a cohesive team environment.

Safety Benefits of Learning to Swim

According to the National Autism Association, drowning is among the leading causes of death for children with autism.  This is because of three common autistic characteristics: wandering, fascination with the water, and a lack of understanding of danger.  Across the board, children with special needs have a higher risk of drowning.  Teaching children to swim can mean the difference between life and death if they find themselves accidentally in the water.  It is the best way to protect your child.

Additionally, while learning to swim, children also develop better spatial awareness as they use reference points and explore water depth.  Increased spatial awareness, along with the physical balance that naturally develops, can help keep a special needs child from falling into the water in the first place.

Premier Aquatics Services Swim Lessons

At Premier Aquatics Services, all of our instructors are dedicated to the wellbeing of each student.  We use effective techniques to teach children of all ability levels, so each child can enjoy all of the physical, emotional, and safety benefits.  To learn more about the impact of swim lessons on childhood mental development, read our post: Can Swim Lessons Make Your Child Smarter.

Premier Aquatics Services is currently enrolling winter classes and private lessons for all age groups. Click here to learn more about the Premier Aquatic’s year-round swim lesson programs.

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Regardless of the primary sport interest, young athletes are always looking for ways to boost their performance levels and hone their skills.  They train harder and experiment with diet changes, but often hit a plateau that is hard to overcome.

Blending traditional training programs with new activities to expand an athlete’s skillset is not a new concept.  For example, we have all heard of the football players who turn to ballet lessons to become lighter on their feet.  One of the best kept training secrets, however, is the pool.  Incorporating swimming into your training program provides countless benefits and can give you an edge over your competition.

A Balanced Body

Swimming builds lean, long, and strong muscles, while weight training develops shorter, dense muscle groups.  Blending the two types of training will give your body a balanced strength and increased joint flexibility.  With each stroke, you expand your range of motion through the shoulder joint, torso, and hips.  For athletes who require rotational motion, such as throwing, this increased flexibility will certainly up your game.

A Strong Core

We all know that swimming is a total body workout; however, how many of us really understand what that means.  By incorporating both the upper and lower body through fluid movements, you not only work the large and small muscle groups in those areas, but you also strengthen the entire core because it is key for stabilizing your body throughout the continuous motion.  Whether you are headed back to the court or the field after your swim, your newfound core strength will give you heightened agility and a better overall performance.

Increase Lung Capacity

Not only will swim training help athletes hold their breath, the key to swimming is breath control.  The most successful athletes are able to effectively recover their heart rate after a sudden spike, such as after a full sprint down the field.  Swimming requires athletes to learn to control their breath because they are performing cardiovascular exercise in an environment with limited oxygen.  Once you take this skill into the oxygen-limitless atmosphere of a court or field, you won’t be able to ignore the benefits.

Injury Prevention

Especially for young athletes who have a beautiful sense of invincibility, it is important to allow your body to recover from high-impact training.  But when you are working towards a new goal, building rest time into your program can be difficult.  In comparison to high-impact sports, swim training can protect the joints and muscles easier because of the body’s buoyancy in water.  This allows you to have all the benefits of a workout without the damaging impact associated with many land sports.  Of course, it is still important to listen to your body and let your muscles recover appropriately.

Reduce Recovery Time

Every athlete knows that most endurance sports, such as running and cycling, can lead to a build up of lactic acid in the muscles.  Swimming, especially in a heated pool, after an intense workout flushes the muscle-tightening toxins and shortens muscle recovery time.

Premier Aquatics Services – Your Swim Training Partners

As a young athlete, it is essential to protect your body while building your base of skills and developing your strength.  By alternating pool workouts with your regular training, you’ll benefit from an increased range of motion, strengthened alternative muscles that support those primarily worked on the field, and a greater overall fitness.

At Premier Aquatics Services, we support our local athletes by providing year-round access to swim facilities, coaches, and lessons.  We are dedicated to teaching effective swim techniques, so athletes can boost their performance levels safely and effectively.  To learn more about our swim lesson programs and register classes, visit our aquatic services page.

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