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Swimtastic Celebrates: May is National Water Safety Month

Jaime Zilverberg : May 10, 2018 6:01:19 PM

Summer is almost here! Vacations are on the horizon and summer activities are just around the bend. Growing up, we loved our water balloon fights, riding our bikes, and the abundant barbecues and delicious foods synonymous with a kid's favorite time of year. For a lot of people, summer means water activities! Whether it's the pool, the reservoir, the beach, or the lake, water activities and water safety go hand in hand. May is National Water Safety Month and we'd like to give you some helpful tips to keep you and your little ones safe!

This summer, remember to follow these important safety tips:

Water Safety Tips

1. Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible. The risk of drowning is decreased by as much as 88% when children 1–4 take swimming lessons.

2. Children should always be supervised around water. Make sure there is a responsible, designated person to watch the water when children are swimming.

3. Always swim with a buddy. Even at a public or lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system and never swim alone.

4. Enter the water feet first. Serious injuries can occur from diving headfirst into unknown water and hitting the bottom.

5. Stay away from pool drains. Limbs, hair, or clothing can become entangled if a drain is faulty.

6. Follow safety rules: no running, pushing, dunking, or breath-holding contests.

7. Know your limits. Cold water, currents, and other dangerous conditions can challenge even the strongest swimmers.

8. Teach children not to drink the pool water. This is to prevent them from getting sick, choking, or inhaling water.

9. Don’t use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. Using air-filled swimming aids can give parents and children a false sense of security.