LIVE WELL
Five Essential Water Safety Tips to Know
As temperatures rise, kids want to cool off, whether that’s in pools, ponds, lakes, rivers, streams, or oceans. Unfortunately, that means the risk of drowning is ever-present. With May being National Water Safety Month, now is the time for parents and caregivers to reinforce the importance of water safety and equip their kids with the essential skills to keep them safe in and around water.
children invaluable water safety and swimming skills each year. With many pools closed last summer due to COVID-19, the Y wants to make sure parents, caregivers, and children make water safety a top priority as they head back into the water this year. Here are five tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all:
1. Never swim alone or without a water watcher. When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times. Teach your children that they should only swim in As “America’s Swim locations where a lifeInstructor,” the Y teach- guard is on duty or es more than 1 million
5. Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. If a child finds their friend in 2. Supervise your chil- deep water unexpectdren whenever they’re edly, their natural instinct may be to jump in in or near water. the water to try to save Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool them. Even if a child or lake, make sure your is a great swimmer, a panicked person will children are within arm’s reach at all times. overpower them and easily pull the rescuer underwater. 3. Don’t engage in breath-holding activThe Y’s Safety Around ities. Children should Water program teaches not hold their breath for a prolonged amount the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using of time while swimming, as this can cause a long object to reach drowning and has sev- for them and pull them eral other severe physi- to safety. By using this technique children can cal side effects. help their friends without compromising their 4. Wear a life jackown safety. et. Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-ap- To learn more about YMCA Swim Lessons, proved life jacket. visit ymcacf.org where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.
