Splash into Summer Safely

School is out & the pools are open! As I’m at our neighborhood pool playing with the kids, I’m reminded of some important tips for keeping your family cool and safe this summer.

Supervision is a must! Make sure to follow the 10/20 rule while your kids are swimming. The supervising adult should be positioned to be able to scan the water every 10 seconds and reach it within 20 seconds. It’s also important to have proper flotation devices & a phone nearby. If your dropping your kids off to swim, investigate the pools rules & policies. Find out if there is a CERTIFIED life guard on duty or a pool attendent. A pool attendant is NOT certified to save lives.

If your child goes missing ALWAYS check the pool or lake FIRST. Child drowning is often silent. Many drowning accidents happen when the child has been missing less than five minutes.

Baby pools can be dangerous, too. ALWAYS drain wading pools after children are done playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water. It’s also important to remove all toys when you leave the baby pool because toys, balls and floats can attract children to unattended water.

May you dive into summer safely!