KEEPING KIDS SAFE AROUND WATER

More tips for keeping children safe around water:

■ Designate a “water watcher.” This person should not be reading or texting. They should never take their eyes off the children. Adults should take turns and have a designated person watching at all times.

■ Make sure children learn to swim. Go to usaswimmingfoundation.org and type in your ZIP code to find free and low-cost swim lessons close to you. If you are an adult and don’t know how to swim, remember it’s never too late to learn this lifesaving skill.

■ Even if your child can swim, vigilance is needed. A child can slip and fall, get tired or play a dangerous water game such as “hold your breath.”

■ Teach your child that swimming in open water is different from swimming in a pool. Make sure they are aware of challenges such as limited visibility, currents and undertow.

■ Air-filled or foam toys are not safety devices. Don’t use water wings, noodles or inner tubes instead of life jackets. These toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe.

■ Drowning can happen quickly and quietly. You might expect a drowning person to splash or yell for help. Sometimes, people quietly slip beneath the water.

■ Use designated swimming and recreational areas whenever possible. Professionals have assessed the area, and there are usually signs posted regarding hazards and lifeguard schedules.

■ Use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket in and around open water. Get a life jacket (also called a personal floatation device or PFD) that is appropriate for a child’s weight and the water activity.

■ Learn CPR. In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills can save a life.

■ Avoid the “everyone is watching, no one is watching” scenario. Family and friends gather at a backyard barbecue and pool party. Adults assume everyone is watching the kids, but no one is watching.

SOURCES: Safe Kids Worldwide and Nationwide’s Make Safe Happen, USA Swimming Foundation and American Red Cross