Editorial Standards

My Swimming Guide exists to give you genuinely useful, honest guidance — the kind you'd get from a knowledgeable friend, not a sales pitch. These are the standards every article is held to.

Helpful, true, and valuable

Every article has to earn its place by being genuinely helpful, accurate, and worth your time. We describe and explain — we don't pad, and we don't publish thin content. Where we're not certain, we say so rather than guessing.

Accuracy and sourcing

For safety topics, we align our guidance with recognized authorities and cite them so you can read further and verify for yourself. Depending on the topic, that includes the American Red Cross, the U.S. Lifesaving Association, NOAA / the National Weather Service, the U.S. Coast Guard, the CDC, and the American Academy of Pediatrics. We don't fabricate statistics, studies, or citations. If we don't have a solid figure, we describe the range and explain why it varies.

We describe and educate — we don't prescribe

We share practical, general information about learning to swim, technique, gear, travel, and water safety. We are not doctors, lifeguards, or certified instructors, and our articles are not a substitute for professional advice or training. In particular:

• Not medical advice. Nothing here is medical or health advice. Swimming affects people differently, and if you have any health condition or concern, talk to a qualified doctor before starting or changing what you do in the water.
• Not safety certification or rescue training. Our safety articles are educational summaries of widely recognized guidance — not a replacement for hands-on training. For real skills, take a certified course in swimming, water rescue, first aid, or CPR from a recognized provider such as the American Red Cross.
• Not emergency advice. In an emergency, do not rely on an article. Call your local emergency number (911 in the U.S.) and follow the direction of lifeguards and trained responders.

Safety first

Water carries real risks. Our content includes safety notes throughout, and we always encourage the safe choices: swim at lifeguarded locations, never swim alone, stay within your depth and ability, supervise children constantly, and follow all local warnings, flags, and lifeguard instructions. When in doubt, choose caution over confidence.

Corrections and updates

We keep articles current and show a "last updated" date where relevant. If you spot an error, please tell us at [email protected] — we'll review and correct it promptly.

How we make money

We may use affiliate links and display advertising to keep the site free. This never changes what we recommend or the price you pay. See our affiliate disclosure for details.