Summer is in full swing and the days are heating up. That means more time spent outside, and more time at a lake or the pool. Before hopping in, it’s important to know the fundamentals of water safety. The ZAC Foundation, an organization dedicated to drowning prevention and swimming safety, recently reached out with some great tips and we wanted to share them with you.
First things first, you should know the ABCDs of water safety.
Adult – Never let children be alone near a pool, ocean, lake, or river. Make sure a responsible adult is nearby and paying attention.
Barrier – Make sure there is a barrier around your pool so kids can’t get in unsupervised. A fence should be at least 4 feet high and have a self-locking gate.
Classes – Kids and adults should take safety classes. Classes will help kids feel comfortable around the water, and adults will have peace of mind that they know what to do in an emergency.
Drains – Teach all swimmers to stay away from all pool and spa drains. Flat drain covers can be completely covered by a body part and the suction can be equivalent to hundreds of pounds of force. New, safer drain covers are on the market and are designed so they can’t be fully blocked.
That’s just the surface of what you should know. The ZAC Foundation shared many more tips to keep your family safe this summer:
- Teach kids to swim with a partner every time
- Always stay alert at public pools, don’t assume someone else is watching your child
- Keep toys that are not in use away from the pool and out of reach.
- Talk to your kids about diving into shallow or unknown water. The entry into any water should be feet first.
- Tie up long hair securely to protect from drain entanglement
- Make sure teens and kids don’t swim or boat without life jackets. Many teens misjudge their abilities due to cold water and currents.
For more tips, check out this video from The ZAC foundation.
The most important thing is to stay safe while having fun this summer. Enjoy the pool!
