Water awareness essential to having safe, fun summer

Water leisure venues like swimming pools and waterparks are lots of fun and great places to enjoy recreation together as a family. Of course, the key to having the most fun is to be safe in the water. You can greatly reduce the chances of you, your friends or family members becoming drowning victims or being sickened or injured if you follow a few simple safety tips:

* Parents are the first line of defense in keeping kids safe in the water. Never leave your kids unattended near water, not even for a minute.

* Make sure your kids learn to swim. It’s not only a great sport, swimming is a skill that can save their lives.

* Remember, lifeguards are there for everyone in the pool, not just the individual swimmer. Lifeguards are there as a last line of defense when all other layers of protection fail.

* If you or a family member is a weak or nonswimmer, wear a life vest. It’s nothing to be embarrassed about.

* Follow posted safety rules and warnings. Teach kids that being safe in and around the water is a personal responsibility — yours and theirs.

* Teach kids not to drink the pool water.

* Avoid swimming when you have diarrhea. You can spread germs in the water and make other people sick.

* Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies. Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation and be aware of where lifeguards and safety equipment are located.

To learn more about how you and your family can stay safe in the water this summer, visit www.waterparks.com or the Center for Disease Control’s healthy swimming Web page at www.cdc.gov/healthyswimming