Water Safety Tips
 

 

These general water safety tips will help you and your children stay safe in, on, and around the water!
 
  • Learn to swim.  Always swim with a buddy
  • Swim in supervised areas only
  • Obey all rules and posted signs
  • Watch out for the "dangerous too's" -- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity
  • Don't mix alcohol and swimming
  • Pay attention to weather conditions.  Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather
  • Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies

 

Beach Safety

  • Protect your skin with a sunscreen of at least 15.  Limit your exposure between 10am and 4pm.
  • Drink plenty of water and often, even if you do not feel thirsty.  Your body needs water to keep cool.  Avoid alcohol or caffeine which makes the effects of the heat make your body feel worse.
  • Watch for signs of heat stroke.  Heat stroke is life threatening. Signals include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness, rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Keep the person lying down and get help.
  • Wear eye protection
  • Wear foot protection

 

 

 

 


 

 

 

 

 

Home Pools

  • Learn to swim
  • Never leave a child unobserved around water. Your eyes must be on the child at all times.  Adult supervision is recommended.
  • Have a phone accessible to use in the case of an emergency
  • Learn Red Cross CPR
  • Enclose the pool area completely with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars.
  • Never leave furniture near the fence that would enable a child to climb over the fence.
  • Keep basic lifesaving equipment by the pool and know how to use it. (Pole, rope, and personal flotation devices)
  • Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use.
  • Pool covers should always be completely removed prior to pool use.
  • If a child is missing, check the pool first.  Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and surface, as well as the surrounding pool areas.


 
To learn more about home pool safety, you can purchase the Video "It only takes a Minute" from the American Red Cross, Milford Chapter.

 
To learn more about our CPR Classes, call our Chapter House (203) 874-2531 or link to our Health & Safety page for the upcoming classes.

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