Swimming Pool Safety
If you're swimming in your pool at home, remember that there's no lifeguard around but you. Take these extra precautions for safety
Install a barrier Make sure the pool area is fenced off from the house and the rest of the yard This eliminates the chance that your child or a neighbor's child will accidentally fall into the water in an unsupervised area Fencing should be at least 4 feet high, and a self-closing, self-latching gate provides extra protection, as does a pool cover If you have a door leading directly from the house to the pool area, keep it locked to prevent young children from wandering into the pool area
Prepare for an emergency  Have a telephone and emergency phone numbers available near the pool Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and first aid Have a first-aid kit on hand Watch for changing weather. Be prepared to head indoors if the skies look threatening
On the open water  If you're venturing out to a lake, a river or the ocean, keep the following in mind when you're swimming on the open water Be in shape for what you intend to doSwimming is an excellent form of exercise, but don't attempt more than your physical condition easily allows Cold water, currents and other conditions on the open water require more energy than does swimming in a pool If you're not in shape, you might have a hard time making it back to shore As with any activity that you're not doing regularly, start out slowly
Don't swim aloneSwim with a friend Or, at the very least, have someone onshore keep an eye on you if you venture in unaccompanied Stay within designated swimming areas Designated swimming areas are usually marked off by ropes or buoys. You might be tempted to swim into other areas, but unseen dangers may lie just beneath the water's surface, such as weeds that can entangle you or rocky underwater terrain
Don't fight the currentIf you get caught in a particularly strong current, don't panic. Trying to swim directly toward shore won't help You probably won't make any progress against the current, and you'll just tire yourself out. Instead, swim in a line parallel to the shore When you feel the current relax, you can swim toward shore
Watch for electrical stormsBefore you swim, check the weather forecast. If a storm is coming, stay out of the water to avoid lightning strikes Seek shelter, if possible Know that water-related tragedies happen in the blink of an eye.Assure your safety and that of your kids by swimming smartly