Safe Swimming Tips

Chances are you and your loved ones will enjoy some water/pool time this summer, so it’s important to learn how to protect yourself, your family and your friends from germs found in contaminated water and also to prevent accidental drowning.

By keeping these basic precautions in mind, you can make swimming as safe as it is fun this summer!

• Never take your eyes off small children near pools, streams or waterways.
• Don’t swallow pool water; it can contain bacteria that can make you ill.
• Don’t swim when you have diarrhea. This is especially important for kids in diapers. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.
• Practice good hygiene. Take a shower before swimming and wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers. Germs on your body end up in the water.
• Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device (PFD) when around the water.
• Watch out for the dangerous “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
• Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).
• Learn CPR and insist that babysitters, grandparents and others who care for your child know CPR.

These are only a few tips for safe swimming. For more information, visit these websites:

American Red Cross
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention