We can hardly wait to enjoy our summer. And, most of us have been longing for summer to reappear since it ended at the beginning of last fall! Along with summer comes all sorts of water play.
Here’s how to make your summer water activities FUN AND SAFE:
- Find a Buddy! Wherever you’re swimming – in a pool, the ocean, a lake – never swim alone. You never know when there may be an emergency and you’ll need immediate help.
- Learn Emergency Skills! Take classes on life saving skills such as CPR and rescue techniques. Check with the local Red Cross for available classes.
- Acknowledge Limitations! Don’t go into water that is too deep if you’re a beginning swimmer. When you become tired, take a break. If you are an experienced swimmer, watch out for those around you who are less skilled and offer to rest with someone who gets tired.
- Choose Safe Places to Swim! It’s always best to swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard
- Obey Diving Rules! Dive only in safe places such as the deep end of a supervised pool. A “no diving” sign means that the water is NOT safe for a “head-first entry.”
- Drink Fluids! Keeping your body hydrated is very important. Be sure to drink lots of water—just not the pool or ocean water!
Water-related accidents happen too often, but they can be avoided by remembering how to stay safe. Help your family have a worry-free-water-filled summer by talking about water-safety before you hit the beach or pool!