Strollerderby : swimming in infancy

Heroic Kids: Eight-Year-Old Saves Toddler From Drowning

Kelly Mills — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 19:17:00 GMT

Brave Sarah Ellingwood may only be eight, but she wasn't too young to save a life. While enjoying a day at the lake with family and friends, she noticed a child in the water. She put on her life jacket and jumped in. According to Sarah, "'He (the toddler) came back up, and then he went back down. At first, I thought he was one of the bigger kids. But something told me to go closer to see what it was.'" She found toddler Avery in the water, calling for his dad. Sarah pulled Avery to shore, and returned him to his grateful father.

Avery's dad had one of those terrifying parent moments: one minute your child is right next to you, and the next you don't see him anywhere. But thanks to Sarah, everything turned out okay. And by the way, Sarah says she isn't even much of a swimmer. Her dad, Senior Master Sergeant Darren Ellingwood had proud words for his daughter. "'She does better than she claims to do,' Sergeant Ellingwood said. 'She can dog paddle pretty good. She is just a big-hearted kid who normally does the right thing. It was pure instinct (for her) and the desire to help someone in need.'" Somebody give that little girl a hug and a medal.

Family Resorts Last of a Dying Breed

Rachael Brownell (Redsy) — Sun, 24 Jun 2007 15:14:00 GMT

When I was young, we used to frequent a family resort in Eastern Washington State called Sun Lakes. No catered meals or kiddie sailing lessons or "kid fun camps" here. Just a lake with salamanders, a small store with dime candy, and free reign in a life-guard supervised swimming area and endless mini-golf games with my brothers. We spent a lot of time watching (and griping) as my folks played Canasta and fought over who was the better loser.

Unfortunately, family resorts like these are on the decline. As the price of lakeside real estate climbs, many shoe-string resorts are (understandably) selling to developers who will build private summer homes. Other factors contributing to the decline in these resorts is the shortening of the average family vacation from one-week to two-days.

Is it any wonder we're all so bloody cranky? The wonderful thing about these resorts is that they are relatively affordable for most families and expose you and your kin to many different types of people. I miss Sun Lakes. And trying to recreate that experience for my kids seems nearly impossible in this Club Med era.

Swimming Indoors May Contribute to Childhood Asthma

Karen Murphy — Thu, 07 Jun 2007 18:49:00 GMT

Apparently everything causes asthma: smoking in pregnancy (although if you also eat apples you may balance this out a bit), even car seats for crying out loud, as well as a whole host of genetic factors, environmental factors, and lack of exercise. Ooh, lack of exercise? Maybe we could take care of that one with some swimming? Swimming's good exercise, right? Good for you?

Uh, no, actually, because swimming seems to be a contributor to asthma. Yep, kids who began swimming as infants were found to have asthma-type symptoms later on, as opposed to kids who began swimming when they were a bit older. What next, asthma gods, what next? Will you not be satisfied until every kid wheezes and complains of chest pain? What must we sacrifice in order for you to be sated? What? What?!

No word as to why indoor pools were targeted as opposed to outdoor pools. Or lakes. But then, no one swims much in lakes anymore, because there's you know...lake monsters. Exposure to which probably causes, you guessed it, asthma.