Summer has arrived– a season for barbecues, outdoor play, summer camps, and all sorts of water fun. However, with the excitement of summer activities arrives the prospect of danger, specifically the risk of accidental drowning.

Kim Moore, Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) instructor, shares, “Childhood drowning is the No. 1 cause of accidental death in children under the age of 4. Statistics have shown that boys drown four times more than girls.” Moore relays frightening information, but there are many local resources available to teach children of all ages how to swim.

The Josh Project

Wanda James Butts’ son, Josh, was one of those awful statistics. She faced every mother’s worst fear– the death of her son. In 2006, 16-year-old Josh drowned while rafting on a lake with friends. He did not know how to swim, and he was not wearing a life jacket.

Butts turned her horrendous loss into something positive: she founded The Josh Project, a nonprofit drowning prevention agency. “I could have easily [wallowed in pain], but I believe in a higher being, and my faith in that higher being was how I was able to do it otherwise,” Butts says.

According to a national research study by the USA Swimming Foundation and the University of Memphis, 70 percent of African-American children cannot swim, 60 percent of Hispanic children and 40 percent of Caucasian children. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) cites that African-American children are also three times more likely to drown than their white counterparts, and every day in the United States, approximately 10 people drown.

In Ohio, drownings increased dramatically last year with 13 media-reported fatal child drownings, more than double the number from 2015. Ohio ranks among the top 10 states for child drownings in 2016 and is the highest-ranking northern state.

Butts theorizes that these statistics are so high because “swimming is generational.” Parents can’t teach their children how to swim if they don’t know how themselves. Swimming lessons cost money, and if parents can’t afford lessons and can’t teach their children themselves, then another generation grows up without basic water survival skills.

A positive impact

For the last 10 years, The Josh Project has provided low-cost swim lessons to children in the Toledo area. Butts estimates that they have taught a few thousand children how to swim; her story and The Josh Project have inspired others to create similar programs in other cities.

This year, on its 10th year anniversary, The Josh Project will transition from providing swim lessons to spreading awareness of the imminent dangers of drowning. The project will be a resource for parents because “parents are the first step towards safety because if the parents don’t know how to swim, the kids won’t know,” Butts explains. “I think [the key to decreasing the number of drownings} is education and awareness. We have recently learned that 86 percent of parents do not consider drowning as a real problem for their children. It’s because they don’t know about water safety. I didn’t know that my son should know what to do around water. Parents need to know the importance of water safety in and around water.”

Never too early to start

One such program for those who are “unskilled in the water” is Infant Swimming Resource (ISR). Kim Moore, ISR instructor, works with all ages– from babies to teenagers and adults– and she teaches lessons from The Aqua Hut on Reynolds Rd.

“Our program teaches children how to survive an aquatic accident if they ended up in the water alone. It is a last line of defense for children; if they break all other barriers–parental supervision, locked gates, pool fences–or fall off a dock, walk into a pond or lake, et cetera,” Moore explains.

The private, one-on-one swimming lessons are customized “to the individual child each time they are in the water.” Lessons are 10 minutes long and are held five days per week for four weeks.

A common misconception is that ISR involves throwing an unskilled child/baby into the water. “We do simulations of children falling in the water to give them the experience. We don’t throw them in the water,” Moore clarifies.

Ashley Glinka, mother of three children– a toddler and two infant twins– enrolled her daughter when she was just under 10 months. “We decided to enroll our oldest in ISR because my husband and I both enjoy water sports, and living on a property with a pond and creek lines, we wanted to ensure that we gave her a skill set for survival should she ever need it,” Glinka says. “After her first full session of ISR, she was competent in the ability to flip to her back and float until being rescued. She can now swim, flip to her back for a breath, and continue to swim until she reaches the wall.”

“After seeing how confident she became in the water because of Miss Kim and ISR, along with the peace of mind my husband and I both have in knowing that she has the ability to not panic and solve a problem if she would– heaven forbid– ever find herself alone in water, it was natural that we enrolled our twins this spring,” Glinka says.

Many other organizations also offer swim lessons, from the YMCA to local high schools, so parents can choose the option and price that works best for their family. According to Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, “Participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by 88 percent among children aged 1 to 4 years.”

A day at the pool, on the lake or by the ocean can be a great way to spend your summer days. With the right preparation, you can have plenty of safe and enjoyable fun.

Where can I take swim lessons and learn more?

• Infant Swimming Resource, The Aqua Hut, 2543 N. Reynolds Rd, Toledo. 248-662-8868. [email protected]. InfantSwim.com.
• The Josh Project, 2801 W. Bancroft St, MS 420, Toledo. [email protected]. JoshProject.org.
• Plummer Pool, 6940 Maplewood Ave, Sylvania. PlaySylvania.com.
  Ages 5 and up. $45 for six 40-minute classes. $30 for four 40-minute classes.
• Sylvania Northview High School, 5403 Silica Dr, Sylvania. Nvps.net. 3-5 years and 6-12 years. $75/session for residents and $85/session for nonresidents. Available year round (indoor pool). Email [email protected] to register.
• YMCA of Greater Toledo locations: YMCAToledo.org
• Eastern Community YMCA (indoor, outdoor): 2960 Pickle Rd, Oregon.
• Fort Meigs YMCA (indoor): Eckel Junction Rd, Perrysburg.
  Francis Family YMCA (indoor): 2000 W. Dean Rd, Temperance, MI.
• Sylvania YMCA/JCC (outdoor): 6465 Sylvania Ave, Sylvania.
• West Toledo YMCA (indoor): 2110 Tremainsville Rd, Toledo.
• Wolf Creek YMCA (indoor): 2100 S. Holland-Sylvania Rd, Maumee.
  Monthly membership is dependent on income. For a family membership, cost ranges from $48-$71/month. Swim lessons are an additional fee, usually $30 for a six-week session. Non-members can sign up for lessons for $80 for a six-week session.

As I scrape the burnt eggs from the bottom of the pan I feel small hands tugging on the back of my shirt. “Mom!!! Look at this!!!” My 4-year old has something very important to share with me. However, my mind is on other things– the dishes at hand, the rally for peace taking place downtown, the sadness and frustration in my heart over the state of things in our country. I feel torn between worlds– the one in which I want to give my blood, sweat, and tears to help right the wrongs I read about in the news and the one in which I quietly wash dishes and bandage knees and read bedtime stories to raise up girls who will someday right wrongs themselves.

Feminism = Equality

Feminism has been a part of my identity for as long as I can remember. I didn’t always call it by name but it was there all the same. As I entered adulthood I learned that feminism is, plain and simple, the belief that men and women are equal. I could passionately claim my dormant feminism for myself and, thankfully, my husband journeyed right along with me.

My journey toward feminism has been just one facet of my coming home to myself. Another part of that becoming has been motherhood. When I had my first child, almost seven years ago, I had no idea how radically and beautifully my life and identity would change. Staying home with my children, nurturing and teaching them, creating our home into the welcoming and peaceful space I want it to be, has been the most fulfilling work of my life. And as our family grows and my husband’s career begins to take shape, my role as mother and homemaker has become an even more natural rhythm for our family. I love it! So why do I sometimes feel like I should be doing more?

If the mothers and grandmothers of feminism worked so hard to get out of the kitchen, am I settling by staying there? I have so many friends who are strong, empowered women who either delayed having children, didn’t have children at all, or strike a beautiful balance between home life and activism. And yet, there is also the assumption that if you stay home or have a lot of children you are conforming to traditional gender stereotypes or the expectations of your husband. I have struggled with this both internally and externally in the judgment of others. But the truth is feminism is the full equality of men and women. Regardless of what role they fill in their family or community, we have equal value. Right now my most meaningful life just happens to be found within traditional gender roles.

Everyone can win

Historically, women only made personal and professional choices if their husbands “allowed” them to. Even now, if a woman has a more visible or high-profile job than her husband it can be implied they have their spotlight because their husbands allowed it. What an amazing guy to “let” her pursue her career. Or reverse it: my husband has a very busy professional life and sometimes people will joke that I’ve given him permission to be away and participate in all the things that fill up his calendar. But I agree with Chimimanda Ngozi Adichie when she said in her TedTalk, “Allow is a troubling word. ‘Allow’ is about power.”

My best hope for my marriage, which is rooted in the idea that my husband and I are equal, is we would mutually support one another (never overpower or compete with each other), and we continue to grow together as we make meaning of our lives. I (and we) do not have this figured out by any means, but here are some of the most helpful things I’ve found to battle my own self-doubt in regards to my feminism.

• In my marriage, wide-open communication is key. We are constantly checking in and evaluating our rhythms and routines and expectations to help us understand each other, support each other, and root for each other in our day-to-day work.
• With my kids, reinforcing all those values of justice and equality and compassion that first lead me to feminism. Raising children (boys and girls) who believe in the inherent worth, value, and equality of everyone is our greatest work and activism as parents.
• And in myself, learning to own it. This is who I am: a stay-at-home, raising-tiny-kids, planning-the-meals, cleaning-the-bathrooms (occasionally), and folding-all-the-laundry mom! When I doubt myself I turn the question around, “You’re a feminist and you’re making dinner for your family, so making dinner must be an act of feminism.”

When I get to wake up every morning and be exactly where I want to be, I am a feminist. When I get to use my gifts, become who I was made to be without judgment and restriction, that is feminism. Feminism that doesn’t support all women is a sham. True feminism should mean everyone wins, everyone gets to be fully human– men and woman, career women, working moms, and stay-at-home moms. Let’s cheer each other on into a better culture for us and our kids.

Ever run into a store for a minute, leaving your child to wait in the car? Or worse, imagine this scenario: you’re so preoccupied with getting to work on time, you forget your sleeping child is still in the backseat! When you remember, will it be too late? It may seem impossible, but accidents like these can easily happen.
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A car’s internal temperature increases rapidly, leaving kids vulnerable to dehydration, heat stroke, or worse. On average, 37 children die per year due to heat-related complications from being left inside a vehicle; half are under the age of 2. Suffering from such a horrific tragedy changes the lives of the victim’s loved ones forever. Dr. Marianne Black of Franklin Park Pediatrics and Officer Jodi Johnson of the Rossford Police Department lay out the dangers and offer suggestions for keeping our kids safe.

Heat stroke happens fast

Black warns that heat stroke can occur within minutes. Signs to look for include flushed/hot skin, lack of sweat, agitation, dizziness, disorientation, nausea/vomiting, rapid breathing, confusion, seizures, and unconsciousness. “The temperature inside a car can increase 20 degrees in just 10 minutes, and rolling down a window does little to cool it down. The temperature climbs quickly, higher than outside temperatures,” Black said. “Children are more vulnerable to heat stroke because their bodies warm up three to five times faster than an adult body. Also, children have fewer sweat glands and they are not able to adapt to temperature changes as well as adults. Deaths have occurred when the temperature is just above 70 degrees outside.”

See a child alone in a car? Take action

Don’t wait if you see a child alone in a car. Call 911 immediately, and get the child out of the car. Black advises the child must be cooled down. Stay with the child until help arrives, and send someone to look for the parent right away.

Johnson urges, “…A citizen has every right to rescue a child from a very hot vehicle by any means possible. If they feel it necessary to break out a window to get to that child, then by all means, yes, it is a precious human life.” Parents who leave a child alone in a vehicle also face charges of child endangerment.

Slow down and be aware

Many parents are increasingly overwhelmed by the demands of work and family life, so it’s vital to have emergency plans in place. Johnson urges, “Prevention starts with slowing our lives down. Children are, and should be, our focus in life. If parents, grandparents, sitters, etc., slow down and focus on the child and not where they need to rush off to next, it would greatly reduce many children’s accidents.”

Keep kids safe

• Never leave your child alone in the car, even for a minute.
• Get in the habit of checking the back seat every time you leave the car. Leave something you need in the back seat of the car (a purse, cell phone, identity badge, etc.) as a backup in moments of forgetfulness– we all have them!
• Keep vehicles locked always. Tragic accidents have occurred when kids have entered a vehicle on their own and been unable to get out. Make sure car keys are inaccessible to children.
• Call 911 if you see a child alone in a car. If they appear to be in danger, get them out of the car as fast as you can.
• Ask childcare providers, schools, relatives etc. to call to check in if your child has not arrived on time.

Raising kids creates clutter. Most families do regular sweeps to get rid of outgrown clothes and toys. But sometimes there are those things that are hard to give away. Perhaps they were expensive—think cellphones and carseats. Or perhaps they are sentimental—think trophies, stuffed animals, books and puzzles. Either way, you feel a twinge when you think about letting them go, so they get stuck in drawers and closets.

The best solution is to find the right destination for these items. This summer, donate to someone who will appreciate them. Get them to a company or organization that can recycle them safely and perhaps creatively. With the options listed below, you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing you made a responsible choice that clears the clutter for you and does something good for others.

Athletic and other shoes: Soles4Souls.com has distributed more than 30 million pairs of shoes since they were founded after Hurricane Katrina. You can purchase a mailing label or find a drop off site on their website. OneWorldRunning.com sends still-wearable shoes to runners in developing countries. Anything that can’t be worn goes to the Nike-Reuse-A-Shoe program to be recycled into running tracks and playgrounds.

Binders: At the end of the school year, most families have a stack of ragged binders. If you turn them in at Staples or Office Max, you’ll get a $2 credit toward a same day purchase of a new binder. Then they’ll recycle the binders with the help of Terracycle, a company that has partnered with major manufacturers to create innovative recycling programs for everything from toothbrushes and guitar strings to juice pouches and the blister packs from contact lenses.

Books: Better World books has drop off boxes where they accept books of all kinds. Some are sold on their website and some go to literacy programs overseas. (betterworldbooks.com)

Carseats: A few organizations are trying to get used carseats into the hands of families that need them. A state-by-state list is available at recycleyourcarseat.org.

Crayons: Crazy Crayons collects broken, worn or loose crayons. They will melt them down and turn them into new Eco Star crayons or multi-colored crayons shaped like worms.

Cellphones: Even after you’ve disconnected your phone service, the phone can be used to make 911 calls. Secure the Call takes advantage of this fact, collecting phones and then distributing them to senior citizen organizations, domestic violence shelters, police departments and other agencies that can get them into the hands of people who need them. Their website includes a free mailing label as well as a list of community partners in every state. (securethecall.org)

Eyeglasses: Lions International collects used eyeglasses as part of their effort to improve vision for people around the world.

Legos: The plastic in Legos is a kind that can’t usually be recycled, so don’t mix them into the bin. Instead, ship them to Brick Recycler. No need to sort the bricks. They will repackage and get them to hospitals, schools, orphanages and other places where kids will be very happy to have them. (www.brickrecycler.com)

Stuffed animals: Stuffed Animals for Emergencies gets gently used stuffed animals into the hands of children and even service members who need a little comfort. Their website lists chapters in many parts of the country, and they also have advice about how to clean stuffed animals in preparation for donation. (stuffedanimalsforemergencies.org)

All of these programs do three important things: Keep useable stuff out of the local landfill. Get things into the hands of people who can use them. And get all that clutter out of your house! That’s a win-win-win!