Arm Floaties at Blizzard Beach

[shana398]

Myself and DS4 will be going to Disney at the end of Aug./beginning of Sept. and will be going to Blizzard Beach one day. Are we allowed to take arm floaties into the park? I know life jackets are available, but we have a pool at home and my son is comfortable with arm floaties. Just want to make sure I can take them in. Thanks!

 

[Alesia]

Nope. No arm floaties.

 

[Paigesmom2013]

Do you mean the Sterns puddlejumpers? Those are Coast guard approved. They were allowed in my local pool but I don't know the Disney rules...

 

[Kathryn777]

No. But you can use the puddle jumpers as they are coast guard approved. They are much safer than arm bands anyway

 

[shana398]

Thanks! Maybe I will try the puddle jumpers. I wonder if the arm band floaties are a Texas thing. Here where I live they are very, very common.

 

[Alesia]

Thanks! Maybe I will try the puddle jumpers. I wonder if the arm band floaties are a Texas thing. Here where I live they are very, very common.

I know what you're talking about - just old-fashioned, inflatable floaties. I haven't seen a water park or public beach that allows them in years. Come to think of it, I haven't seen them at a public pool in ages, either.

 

[OFF2NVRLAND]

My son prefers floaties too, so I save them for our pool. I bought the puddle jumpers just for our blizzard beach trip. It seemed so much more comfortable for him than the life vests that I saw the kids wearing. They do not ride up on them like the vests. Money well spent!

 

[bumbershoot]

If they are just arm floaties, not attached to a vest on the body, please stop using them. They can CAUSE drowning.

If the child's arms get above the head the child can't bring them down. The mouth ends up below the water. It's terrifying and dangerous.

I learned about it here several years ago and didn't believe it. Went to my brother's place on vacation, happily letting DS use the floaties (after all that's how my brother and I learned to swim) and the exact scenario played out. With DS in arms reach but behind me.

And like all drowning, it was silent. He was so busy trying to get his arms down and face up that he was silent. It was my brother looking behind me and getting a funny expression on his face that clued me in and I was able to save DS. He was saved and comforted. The floaties got popped, and he got a proper swim best the next day.

If they are just the arm floats, please please don't learn from your own experience.

 

[shana398]

Thanks! I will look into the puddle jumpers.

The life vests do look very uncomfortable. My son can swim somewhat, but he is not a strong swimmer by any means. He's taken swimming lessons and will be taking them again starting next week, but we use the floaties in our pool at home. We'll keep doing that until he is a strong swimmer.

Here in South Texas lots of kids use the floaties. In fact, I hardly ever see a kid at a pool with a life jacket, unless it's a small baby. We do use life jackets for boating, but for swimming they are uncomfortable and restrictive, especially since he is able to swim fairly well on his own.

 

[shana398]

If they are just arm floaties, not attached to a vest on the body, please stop using them. They can CAUSE drowning.

If the child's arms get above the head the child can't bring them down. The mouth ends up below the water. It's terrifying and dangerous.

I learned about it here several years ago and didn't believe it. Went to my brother's place on vacation, happily letting DS use the floaties (after all that's how my brother and I learned to swim) and the exact scenario played out. With DS in arms reach but behind me.

And like all drowning, it was silent. He was so busy trying to get his arms down and face up that he was silent. It was my brother looking behind me and getting a funny expression on his face that clued me in and I was able to save DS. He was saved and comforted. The floaties got popped, and he got a proper swim best the next day.

If they are just the arm floats, please please don't learn from your own experience.

Oh, wow! I typed my reply before I saw this. I had NO idea! We thought we were being super safe, since, like I say, he can swim, even under water, but we want to be extra safe until he is a strong swimmer. I really appreciate it!

 

[Kathryn777]

I agree with the Poster about causing drowning. When I did my lifeguard training they did a lot of warning about having to watch kids with those on extra closely. The puddle jumper keeps their body afloat but let's them swim in the horizontal position. Yes, lots of people around us use arm floaties too (SC) but they aren't safe

 

[shana398]

Thanks for the replies! I ordered a puddle jumper for our trip and, I guess, for home, too!

 

[dae3dae3]

Don't forget that even with swim lessons they will never truly be a swimmer until you let them get in a pool and swim. Only playing around in the pool and doing it will give them the comfort and confidence of being a swimmer. There isn't enough time to practice in lessons. Once they have the basics from the lessons they need to spend some time in the water. Under close observation of course. A couple of trips to the pool after lessons and they will be pros. Floaties will actually prevent them from learning to swim because they can't put their arms under the water to make the needed movements. Plus of course the above post about it forcing their heads below the water.