They days are getting warmer and school will be out soon - that mean more time for water fun for our families. No matter if you are hitting the beach or the pool safety is important - make sure to talk to your kids about how to stay safe around water. May is National Water Safety Month and with more opportunities for kids to be around the water, I thought it was a great time to make sure kids are water safe. Event if you don't have a pool at home it 's that time of year for pool parties and trips to the beach. Let’s face it, safety is important, especially water safety. No matter how busy we get or how much fun we are having, it’s always best to keep safety rules in mind.
One of my favorite places to head to on hot days is the beach, I personally make it a point to set up near a lifeguard station, just in case. This is also a good time to start thinking about swim lessons for your kids.
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Robby to the Rescue - Ventura County Fire Department
During the spring and summer, water is the prime choice for cooling off for everyone. Many people enjoy swimming pools, beaches, lakes, and ponds. Although they are fun, they can also be dangerous and we need to remember to put safety first.
In this video, Firefighter Robby teams with Station 53 and EMS Medical Director Dr. Dan Shepherd to talk about how you can make sure everyone stays safe while in the water!
Visit the Firefighter Robby webpage for more safety information here.
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Water Safety Resources:
- Water Safety at Home
- Pool Safely
- Beach Safety
- Drowning Prevention Information - Ventura County Health Care Agency
TIPS TO BE SAFE AROUND WATER
- Always watch children around water - Assign an adult as a “water watcher”
- Stay within arm’s reach of young or non-swimming children in the water
- Swim when a lifeguard is present
- Reach or throw, not go, to help a swimmer who is in trouble
- Learn CPR - adults and teens
- Enroll in swim lessons
- Teach children to always ask a parent / guardian to obtain permission before entering a pool
- Don’t swim or play around pool drains or swim near missing drain covers
- Avoid alcohol in aquatic environments - especially when supervising children
- Parents should create layers of protection between the water and your children, such as gates, alarms, and fencing
More Water Safety Information:
- The Red Cross Water Safety for Kids - includes fun videos geared to kids and resources for parents
- Ventura County Fire Department Water Safety Page
- Los Angeles County Fire Department Water Safety
- May is Water Safety Month
- Safe Kids Worldwide Water Safety at Home
- Swim by American Red Cross - Water Safety App: Drowning prevention & emergency response information, plus educational games and videos for kids plus a swim lesson progress tracker. Download: Apple App store / Google Play store
