Celebrate National Water Safety Month this Memorial Day Weekend

May is National Water Safety Month. With the weather looking up for this Memorial Day Weekend, it is important to re-visit water safety tips. Swimming is one of the most popular summer activities. Child drowning is a silent death and unfortunately it happens more often than you think. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in children under the age of fifteen.

Make sure to monitor children at or near pools, lakes, rivers or any water areas.   Don’t rely on flotation devices as a substitute for supervising children in the water, stay close and alert when watching them. Consider enrolling your child in formal swimming lessons to help prevent them from drowning.

If boating or swimming in a lake, life jackets can help save lives. Even if you do not plan on swimming, be careful around natural bodies of water that may have cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards.

Drowning can happen to adults, not just children.  It is very important to avoid alcohol use when around water. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.  Know your swimming abilities and do not mix them with alcohol.

Prevent unsupervised access to the water and make water safety your priority this Memorial Day Weekend for your family.  In case of an emergency, make sure to call 9-1-1 as soon as possible to avoid losing valuable life-saving seconds.