Water Safety

It is important to know how to be safe while you’re in the water. Here are some important swimming safety tips you should be aware of before you head out to the pool or beach:

1.  Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
2.  Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
3. Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
4. Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
5. Maintain constant supervision.
6. Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well.
7. If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
8. Avoid distractions when supervising children around water. Stay off your cell phone.
9. If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
10. Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
11. Know how and when to call 9-1-1
12. Enroll in our First Aid/CPR/AED (Opens in a new window) course to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
13. Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with SPF of at least 30.
14. Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.