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Tips for Water Safety

Do You Practice Water Safety?

water safety

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Now that school is out and the weather is warming up–a lot–folks are starting to head to the pool, beach and other outdoor bodies of water. Water recreation is a staple of summer and swimming can be tons of fun, especially when it’s hot out.

However, water can also be dangerous, particularly for children. That’s why it’s so important to make sure your kids are properly supervised and take appropriate precautions. And you and your kids should all be educated on water safety.

Educate

First, enroll your child in swimming class. This is at the top of the list, because approximately 3/4 of drowning victims did not know how to swim.

Supervise

Secondly, supervise your children. Make sure an adult is within hearing distance and is able to intervene if necessary. Parents can take turns watching if need be. If you are the one supervising, don’t allow yourself to be distracted by reading or conversations with others. Ideally, you should go where a lifeguard is present, but this may not always be possible.

Be Prepared

Learn CPR. It is always a good idea to get CPR certified, whether you are at the pool or not. You could save a life!

Get Equipped

If you own a pool or spa, make sure you have them properly enclosed and with self closing/latching gates. Also, make sure there is no furniture children could climb on to get over the fence!

Take Precautions

When boating, make sure everyone, but especially kids, are wearing a life vest while in the boat. Side note, I saw an episode of “Cops” the other day and they were patrolling the river. A parent got ticketed because her 11 year old daughter wasn’t wearing a life jacket while out on the boat! The cop said anyone under 13 was required to wear a life jacket.

The point is, so many water related accidents can be prevented with proper water safety. Get educated, be proactive and have a great summer!

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Helpful sources:

http://www.nationalwatersafetymonth.org/water-safety-tips

http://family.go.com/parenting/pkg-school-age/article-798058-water-safety-tips-t/

2 Comments

  1. Thanks for sharing! I think this is so important to learn. I am amazed how many people never learn how to swim. We have so many kids in our neighborhood that can’t swim. I think it’s one of the best gifts you can give your child! Thank you for all of the helpful tips. Great reminder!

    1. I never officially learned either, so we’re really wanting to get the kids lessons!

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