Tips for Water Safety

• Actively supervise kids in and around the water.

• Assign a “pool watcher” at the beach or pool parties with kids.

• Keep distractions limited, such as cell phones and conversations that distract your attention from the pool.

• Start swim lessons as early as six mos. Then, continue year after year to ensure retention of skills.

• Learning how to swim should be a fun, safe, and rewarding experience. We believe that children learn best in small group classes that can help them develop listening skills, social interaction, respect, and learn how to overcome fears and obstacles.

• Keep in mind that swim lessons do not make your child “drownproof.”

• Parents and caregivers must learn CPR, first aid, and basic water safety skills.

• Keep young children and weak swimmers within the arms’ reach of an adult.

• Children should wear appropriate flotation devices if they cannot swim.

• Parents with children in floaties should always be in the water within arm’s length of their child.

• Swim in designated areas supervised by a lifeguard if at a guarded facility. Always swim with a friend.

• Lifeguard “10-minute breaks” may be a nuisance to some, but they do serve a purpose – children need to hydrate, take a break when playing hard in the water, and take a bathroom and sunscreen break. The lifeguards need to do the same.

• Safe lighting protocol is critical even when a lifeguard is not on duty.