Swimming is a highly recommended exercise that gives you a full-body workout. To take the maximum benefits from this whole body workout, we advise you to take help from some professional. The American Lifeguard Association (ALA) has been offering lifeguard classes for over 30 years now. The basic or essential thing in every lifeguard class is swimming.
The lifeguard classes focus on making strong swimmers by training them in special swimming techniques under the guidance of experts. Besides all the swimming techniques it is also necessary to know which swimming accessories serve what purpose.
In this article, we have tried to give you a brief description of some of the main swimming gear accessories and what purpose they serve while swimming. So, let’s look at some of the important swimming accessories.
Before going into detail about the swimming gear let’s talk about the swimming gear generally.
Table of Contents
What is Swimming Gear?
Swimming Gear is the equipment you use in the pool to swim. The gear that is most commonly used is swimming goggles and a cap. Goggles are used to protect your eyes from water splashes, debris and chemicals in the pool. If you are not wearing goggles, you could end up with an eye infection or other medical condition that could be easily treated if caught early enough. Cap is worn on your head to protect your hair and ears from chlorine and other chemicals in the pool.
In short, swimming gear is designed to protect the body from the water and it includes swim fins, goggles, swimming caps, mouthpieces, buoyancy control devices and more. In lifeguard classes, you learn about all the swimming equipment and how it can be used for getting help in your swimming.
Let’s now look at some of the essential things that are used for better swimming performance.
Buoyancy Control Devices:
These are used to keep your head above the water level. They help to prevent you from getting tired and help to conserve your energy.
Mouthpieces:
This is a piece of equipment that is placed inside the mouth. It helps to reduce water intake and helps to prevent water from entering the lungs. Mouthpieces can be found in two different types. One is the inflatable mouthpiece and another one is the rubber mouthpiece.
Goggles:
Goggles are designed to protect the eyes from water splashes and dirt particles. Goggles are designed for various purposes. They can be used for open water swimming, water skiing, snorkelling and even scuba diving.
Masks:
Masks are used to protect the face and eyes during practice or training. They are available in different materials such as plastic, rubber, foam and silicon. Masks can help to prevent water from splashing into the eyes and face. They can also be used to protect against wind and debris.
Hand Paddles:
Hand paddles are an easy way to swim without using the arms. These paddles allow you to use your hands to push off from the wall. This helps you to develop your hand-eye coordination. They are also useful when doing breaststroke and butterfly.
Towel: Sunscreen:
I was surprised how much I needed to pack for a week on the beach, but my advice is to bring everything you can think of! I ended up with a lot of stuff that I didn’t need or use, but I’m glad I did because it kept me from forgetting anything.
Toiletries:
I brought an entire first aid kit, which included bandages, ibuprofen, and anti-itch cream. If you’re looking for some more specific products, here are some of my favourites.
Sunscreen:
I was surprised how much I needed to pack for a week on the beach, but my advice is to bring everything you can think of! I ended up with a lot of stuff that I didn’t need or use, but I’m glad I did because it kept me from forgetting anything.
Final Words:
Swimming gear is generally intended for protection and better swimming performance. Getting professional help for any kind of training is always the best advice to give to anyone. The American Lifeguard Association is one of the best places to get the best swimming training because their lifeguard classes teach some of the best swimming techniques and let you know the proper usage of swimming gear.
If you are interested to learn more about swimming equipment, feel free to join our lifeguard course at any time of the year.