THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 4, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
NY Post
New York Post
29 May 2023


NextImg:I’m a swim instructor — don’t put your kids at risk with this deadly pool mistake

A swimming instructor says protective parents are making a potentially fatal mistake by swaddling their children’s “little arms” in towels after they get out of the pool.

Nikki Scarnati made the declaration during a video shared to TikTok — and it could come as lifesaving advice as the summer swimming season gets underway.

“When you get your child out of the pool, naturally we want to cover them completely, like this” the coach claims in the clip, which shows her wrapping a towel over a young child’s shoulders. “But if they were to fall into the pool this way, all of their limbs are going to be restricted underneath a wet towel.”

Instead, Scarnati urges parents and caregivers to tuck the towel under the child’s arms, saying it’ll allow them more movement if they accidentally fall into the pool.

“After you get them out of the pool, you should first dry their arms off and put the towel underneath their arms,” she explains. “This way, if they end up in the water they can still have access to their limbs to self-rescue, and they’re that much safer.”

@scarnati.swim

Thats right! Make sure your towel is UNDER your littles arms. NOT on top. Follow along for more water safety content ???? #selfrescue #selfrescueswimming #selfrescueswim #watersafety #drowningpreventionawareness #drowningprevention #springhillisr

♬ original sound – Nikki Scarnati
Nikki Scarnati says protective parents are making a life-threatening mistake by swaddling their children in towels after they get out of the pool.
Nikki Scarnati/Instagram

The Florida-based swim coach also warned parents against giving children oversized towels to dry off, saying they’re a hazard that can cause kids to trip and fall into the pool.

Scarnati’s advice was well-received by more than 6 million viewers, some of whom thanked her for sharing the safety tip ahead of the summer.

“I can confirm this is true,” one admirer wrote.

“When I was two I fell into the deep end of a pool with my towel on around my arms, and I had to be rescued.”

However, other parents claimed the tip was not practical, saying their kids loved to wrap up warm in oversized towels.

“Not realistic though. They’re cold and it won’t stay on this way,” one declared.

Nikki Scarnati says protective parents are making a "deadly" mistake by swaddling their children in towels after they get out of the pool.

Scarnati warned parents not to wrap their children up in towels, saying their movement becomes severely restricted.
Nikki Scarnati/Facebook

Instead, Scarnati urges parents and caregivers to tuck the towel under the child's arms, saying it'll allow them more movement if they accidentally fall into the pool.
Just like this! Instead, Scarnati urges parents and caregivers to tuck the towel under the child’s arms, saying it’ll allow them more movement if they accidentally fall into the pool.
Nikki Scarnati/Instagram

Scarnati's advice was well-received by many viewers, some of whom thanked her for sharing the safety tip ahead of the summer.

Scarnati’s advice was well-received by many viewers, some of whom thanked her for sharing the safety tip ahead of the summer.
Nikki Scarnati/Instagram

“My daughter’s four,” another chimed in. “She’s gonna move the towel on top of her shoulders if she’s cold.”

Meanwhile, Scarnati’s towel tip TikTok isn’t the first of the swim coach’s clips to make a splash online.

Last month, she went viral after urging parents not to buy their children swimwear that matches the color of the pool.

The mom shared footage of her own daughter wearing blue bathers as she splashed around in the water to highlight how she became camouflaged.

“This is why you do not put your children in blue bathing suits. Look at how difficult it is to under the water,” Scarnati declared.

“And this is in calm water. This is not with a whole bunch of other kids playing and splashing around and having a good time.”

Last month, Scarnati went viral after urging parents not to buy their children swimwear that matches the color of the pool.

Last month, Scarnati went viral after urging parents not to buy their children swimwear that matches the color of the pool.

“So, do not buy blue bathing suits, guys,” she begged, suggesting parents “buy bright ones” instead.