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Water Safety Tips for an Active and Safe Summer

By , SparkPeople Blogger
Last year shortly after school let out for the summer, our community suffered a tragedy. A happy, smart, and beautiful six-year-old little boy drowned in a swim club pool while attending a classmate's birthday party. What made this tragedy so shocking was the fact that he drowned while surrounded by lifeguards, adults, and a pool full of swimmers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "drowning is the sixth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages, and the second leading cause of death for children ages one to fourteen."

Swimming and other water recreational activities are very popular in the United States, especially during the summer and are great ways to be active. To help educate the public about safer water practices, May was named National Water Safety Month. Here are a few water safety tips to help keep your summer active, safe and enjoyable.

  • Establish a "designated watcher" to actively supervise swimmers by remaining close to the water, conducting frequent head counts, and stepping in when there is too much horsing around. Watch this short video for more helpful tips.

  • Teach children to stay away from pool skimmers, pipes and other pool equipment and to never sit on or play around pool drains. Watch this short video for more helpful tips.

  • Learn water safety and swimming skills as early as possible. Also, remember that although a person may have had swimming lessons, they are not "drownproof" and still in need of monitoring especially if they are under the age of fourteen. Watch this short video for more helpful tips.

  • Knowing CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and how to use an AED (automated external defibrillator) could save the life of someone that has had a water accident. Watch this short video for more helpful tips.

  • Be sure private pools and spas have appropriate safety covers and that above ground pool ladders are raised and locked when not in use. Watch this short video for more helpful tips.
You and your family and friends can also take the Safe Swimmer Pledge:
1. I pledge to never swim alone
2. I pledge to never play or swim near drains or suction fittings
3. When diving I pledge to steer up, and away from the bottom
4. I pledge to obey the pool rules

Make this summer an active one with lots of swimming and water play but be sure to do it safely.

Are you safe in the water? Are there water rules you need to pay closer attention to following?

See more: summer safety health