5 Water Safety Tips

Summer is the time for long days spent near a pool, lake or ocean. Stay safe with the following tips.

• Watch children carefully. Seconds can make a big difference if a child falls into the water. Make sure kids are always properly supervised.
• Secure your pool. If you have a backyard pool, be sure it has the required fencing and a locked gate.
• Swim across a current, not against it. If you find yourself trapped in an ocean riptide, escape the current by swimming parallel to the shore. Gradually make your way back to the beach at an angle.
• Use life preservers. Children should wear Coast Guard-approved life vests at all times while on boats or near open bodies of water.
• Practice common sense. When swimming in the ocean, don't swim at night or close to fishing piers. Keep an eye on the weather, observe all warning signs and never swim alone.