Helping Kids Conquer Their Fear

My first memory of going out on the water was when my dad took the family up to a lake in northern Ohio and paddling us to the other side of to join some friends for a picnic.  My memory of that event is vague, but I don't recall feeling any fear.  In fact, I thought it was really exciting to see the lake up close and wear what felt like a giant, canvas covered orange pillow around my neck.  However, as often happens with most families, life became more and more busy and the opportunities to head out on the water became limited.  The next time I remember my dad taking us to the lake I was a few years older and had forgotten the excitement I originally felt out on the water.  The next time, I felt fear.



Fast forward a quarter century and I find myself in the same boat (no pun intended!) with my own kids who face a fear of the water due to a lack of exposure.  As I have thought about how I dropped the ball and advice I could give parents with young kids, or even grandparents with young grandchildren, here are a few thoughts that have worked for me:

• Start them in the water as early as possible.  Get them in the pool, lake, or ocean and teach them to swim and learn that the water is not a scary place.
• Expose them to new things on a regular basis.  This applies to everything, not just water sports.  Children who are constantly exposed to new ideas and experiences learn more and in turn, seek out opportunities to learn and try new things.
• Make it fun.  I admit I have bribed my kids with food if they would do something to help them overcome fear.  Case in point: I bribed my 7 year old with extra ice cream if he would jump in the pool.  Once he did it and saw that it was fun, the kid couldn't stop jumping in!
• Explore!  Kids love to discover new things, whether it is seeing a fish up close, looking for seashells, or watching waterfowl.  I have seen my kids "forget" that they are afraid because they become completely engrossed in discovering something new.
• Return often.  By this I am advocating a healthy form of desensitization.  The more hours a child spends in the water, the greater their confidence will be.

In most cases, fear is the result of a lack of confidence.  Help your child build confidence in their ability to swim and in the strength of the boat.  The confidence they build in this part of their lives will bleed into other areas and become a positive force for them.

What have you done to help your children or grandchildren develop self confidence and a love of the water?  Drop us a line at safashor@comcast.net.  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter!  Stay tuned for the official market release of the revolutionary Safashor gangplank, which makes getting on and off your boat a breeze!  Coming fall 2012.

If Hell Had A Boat Ramp...

Drought.  Wildfires.  Record heat.  Yes, it has been a long hot summer and we are only about halfway through it.  The graphic on the right from the NCDC of the NOAA shows how dry last month was for the lower 48 states.  Is it any wonder that patrons of some marinas and boat ramps are having trouble either getting to their boats or getting the boats in the water?

Yet as I write this, rain has poured through the countryside of my home in east Idaho, one of the areas labeled as "extreme drought" on the map.  In fact, so much rain has fallen that one of the local flyfishing charters, Teton Valley Lodge, had to rescue some of its boats from a muddy road over the weekend.  At last, rain has come!


So what does all this crazy weather mean for boaters, anglers, and other aquaphiles?  Apparently not much.  Based on news reports from WA to FL, people are still hitting the water and getting away from the heat.  As the drought eases up in many areas after this past weekend, many are finding the perfect conditions for spending the day on the lake.  The weeks between Independence Day and Labor Day are notorious for attracting the most traffic on the water.  I for one am ready to get out there.  I have my PFD and paddle ready and will set out to do some white water rafting next week.

Where is your aquaphilia going to take you over the next 6 weeks?  We would love to hear from you.  Write us at safashor@comcast.net and don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for the latest in boat safety products from Safashor.

Florida in the Spotlight

Florida recently released it's 2011statistics on boating.  The numbers show that 67 people lost their lives in Florida while boating last year and so far 2012 has 28 deaths.  Not surprisingly, most deaths are due to drowning and could have been prevented by simply wearing a life jacket.

Without a doubt, our hearts go out to those who lost family and friends due to accidental death while boating.  As much as we wish there could be a magic remedy for this, we know that the best way to prevent deaths while boating is through education.

Safashor manufactures products to help make boating a safer, more enjoyable sport.  We want to see families out on the water enjoying themselves and creating lasting memories.  The best way to ensure that boating will be a fun, safe sport in the future is to pass along the lessons on safe boating to your kids and grandkids.  We would much rather celebrate stats like a new record fish, more people receiving their scuba certification, or a sharp increase in wake board sales.

Have fun and stay safe out there!  Don't forget to like us on Facebook and tweet with us on Twitter!  For more information about what Safashor can do for you, write us at safashor@comcast.net.

What Would Jimmy Buffett Do?

I grew up in the Midwest where it can get very hot and very humid.  Sound familiar?  With summer temps hitting triple digits across the country, the 4th of July promises to be a scorcher.  I remember one such summer when I was about 13 or 14 and I went with my dad to his softball game on the north side of town.  It was sticky and hot, the kind of heat that just drains your energy.  After my dad's game, I could tell he wasn't doing too well.  His face was bright red and his back was soaked.  Seeing his head bob around as he tried to see straight let me know that this was not a good situation.  After a cold shower and lots of fluids, he was able to bounce back.  Like my father, many men like to think they are indestructible and impervious to something as "benign" as heat exhaustion or its evil twin, heat stroke.  All too often, many people make the mistake to think that just because they are out on the water it will be cooler, so they don't have to worry about heat exhaustion/stroke.  Bad move.

In these situations, I might follow Alan Jackson's advice and ask, "What would Jimmy Buffett do?"

Now, drinking a caffeinated or alcoholic beverage is probably not the best idea when trying to ward off heat exhaustion.  However, drinking something cold with electrolytes (Gatorade, Powerade, etc) would definitely do the trick.  As you are getting ready to hit the water this Independence Day, here are some ideas:

• Lot's of cold drinks!  Many coolers on the market will do the trick to keep those drinks icy cold all day long.  Have you heard about the patented ComboKooler from TrophyBagKooler?  If you "like" them on Facebook you can even save 10%!  It does a great job at keeping anything nice and cold.
• Neck bandanas, chilled or frozen.  If you have never used one of these, you are missing out!  This is a great way to stay cool while out in the sun.
• Shade, shade, and more shade!
• Take it nice and easy...remember it's a holiday.  No need to rush!
• Air conditioning is your best friend.  When the sun gets too hot, it may be time to relax inside for a while.

What do you do to stay cool and safe out on the water?  Safashor would love to hear from you.  Shoot us an email at safashor@comcast.net.  Don't forget to follow us on Facebook and Twitter for all things related to boating and boat safety!