May

10 Safety Tips for Water Play

It is summer time and people will flock to pools, lakes, oceans, and rivers. Warm weather brings unfortunate dangers such as drowning. The best prevention for children from drowning is close adult supervision.

Below are 10 safety tips to supplement the adult supervision:

Water safety in a canoe

1. Always have a competent swimmer and a floating life ring near
2. Any child who cannot swim well should be within arms length of adult protection
3. Do not drink alcohol if you are the person responsible for a childs safety
4. Children should always have a properly fitting life jacket on when they are in or near water such as a lake, river or ocean (this includes on docks and beaches)
5. Do not try to wade or cross a quickly running river
6. Air filled arm bands, toys, and mattresses are not subsititutes for properly fitting life jackets or adult supervision
7. Make sure there is no access to an unsupervised home pool
8. Small portable pools, with just a small amount of water, can be dangerous
8. Provide swimming lessons for your child until they become a proficient swimmer
10. Take a CPR class

Remember, nothing substitutes for parental supervision. Have a safe and fun summer!