One of the best parts of summer is being able to play the day away on a boat or at the beach, lake, or pool. While it’s important to have fun and make memories, it’s also important to remember water safety tips and make sure that everyone stays safe. In today’s blog, we are going over 5 water safety tips for parents and caregivers to remember this summer and beyond.

Always Enforce Safety Tips

Sometimes it can be tough to enforce a rule when your child is having a blast and what they are doing doesn’t seem particularly dangerous. Rules have been set forth to protect children and adults so it’s important to remember to follow and enforce them. Running at the pool may not seem like a big deal but if a child slips, hits their head, and falls into the pool it could quickly turn into a life-threatening situation. If your child knows how to dive, make sure they know to only dive into the deep parts of the pool where diving is permitted so they don’t hit their heads on the bottom of the pool.

Don’t Substitute a Life Jacket

If your child doesn’t know how to swim or isn’t a strong swimmer, they should be using a well-fitting life jacket while in or near the water. Arm floaties, pool floats, tubes, rafts, and other floating products are not sufficient for keeping your little one safe. A well-fitting life jacket and your undivided attention are the best tools to ensure your child’s safety in and near the water.

Eliminate Distractions

Speaking of undivided attention, it can be too easy to become distracted for a few minutes while spending the day out. Whether it’s chatting with a friend or checking email quickly, remaining actively engaged with a child in or near the water is critical. Unfortunately, accidents can happen in a split second and just as quickly become dangerous. Distractions can not only open the window for accidents to happen but can delay your response time in a situation where every second counts.

Know the Rip Current Risks

A rip current, or “riptide” is a strong current of water being carried away from the shoreline and can occur at any beach with breaking waves. Rip currents speeds are typically 1-2 feet per second and account for an astonishing 80% of lifeguard rescues according to the United States Lifesaving Association. Always swim at beaches with a lifeguard and be cognizant of current risks.

Obey Signs and Warnings Posted by Lifeguards

Many beaches and pools will post water safety warnings with current dangers or other water safety information. Take time to read the signs and warnings that have been posted for your safety. If the beach warnings indicate that the currents are too dangerous to swim in, head to a pool or play in the sprinkler to get your water play-in for the day. We hope you enjoyed our 5 water safety tips on today’s blog.