Water and Swimming Safety Tips:

• Teach your children to swim, but remember that younger children should NEVER be left unsupervised around water even if they know how to swim (not even for a second).


• Swim only when a lifeguard is on duty and in designated areas.


• Children should always wear a US Coast Guard approved life jacket when on a lake, river or ocean while boating, water skiing, jet skiing or tubing.


• Warn your children about playing in canals or other fast moving water.


• Never let your child dive if you don't know how deep the water is or if there could be hidden dangers below.


• Do not let your children play around any water (lake, pool, ocean, etc.) without adult supervision (even if he/she is a good swimmer).


• When at the pool/lake in a large group of family and friends always assign one responsible parent/adult to each young child. Keep constant supervision of the young child especially during times of transition. Many accidents have occurred while parents and friends are gathered together to visit and mistakenly assume someone else watching the children.


• Don't allow running or rough play around the water.


• Childproof your swimming pool with a fence around your backyard and a fence (at least 4 feet high) around the pool, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. Keep a phone poolside and learn CPR for emergencies.


• Always completely drain a kiddy pool immediately after each use.


• Understand the meanings and obey the warnings of the colored flags placed near the shore by lifeguards.


• Stop swimming at the first sign of bad weather: storm clouds; thunder and lightning; rough, foamy water.

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