Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Five Summer Swimming Safety Tips

Nothing says summer vacation like warm days spent at the pool or a quick weekend retreat to the beach. Whether you’re jumping waves in the ocean or splashing around in a pool, these tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center will help keep you and your family safe this summer.
• Teach your kids to swim or send them to swimming lessons.  Giving your kids the basic water skills they need will go a long way in keeping them safe.

• Keep an eye on your kids. With lots of kids splashing around in public pools, it’s easy for someone to get dunked by accident. Know where your kids are so if you see them go under you can make sure they come right back up.

• Check your drains. If you have your own pool, make sure your drains meet the safety standards. Drains that don’t could catch children’s hair and pull them to the bottom of the pool very forcefully.

• Don’t panic in a riptide. Before you or your kids go in the ocean, make sure you all know what to do if you get caught in a riptide. The key to staying safe is to try to swim parallel to the shore. Don’t fight your way directly back to the beach, but swim sideways until you are out of the current. Wave for a lifeguard and they’ll help get you back to shore safely.

• Play it safe in the lake. Lake water can be murky, making it hard to see what hides below the surface. Wear water shoes to protect your feet from sharp rocks or other debris. And don’t swim too far from shore. You may not realize how far you’ve gone until you try to stand and can’t find the bottom.

Playing in the water should be a fun family activity. Use these tips from the Federal Citizen Information Center and your family can stay safe while cooling off.

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