Summer is a great time to spend time with family and friends at the beach or at the lake. Keep these safety tips in mind when spending time with family and friends in, on, or near water this summer.

LOOK:

• Always watch children when they are in, on, or near water and don’t be distracted by phone calls, text messages, reading or talking to others. 

• Use the “Water Watcher” tag.  While wearing the card,  the designated adult agrees to supervise the children in the open water or pool, keeping them in sight at all times.
• Children and adults should wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets in lakes and rivers for swimming, and of course while boating, kayaking, etc. 
• Keep an eye on the weather, waves and currents.
• Keep a phone near you – use it only to call for help if there is an emergency.

• If a child is missing, check the water first.

LEARN:

• Both children and adults should learn how to swim and float with a life jacket.
• Learn how to choose the right type of life jacket.
• The life jacket should be the appropriate fit. The shoulder straps of the life jacket should not reach above the ear lobes of the child’s ears, if they do the life jacket needs to be re-fitted to the child.  The life jacket needs to be snug on the child so the life jacket keeps the child’s head above water.  As the child continues swimming in the water, the life jacket may become loose, always re-snug the life jacket to the child.
• The life jacket should be properly fastened.
• Learn how to swim out of a rip current.
• Learn adult and infant CPR, along with how to use rescue equipment.
• Teach children never to swim alone and only to swim in designated swimming areas; swimming in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool.

Dangerously Cold Water – Did You Know?

Oregon’s mountain snow makes waters stay too cool for swimming until at least August, so not to be fooled now!  Rivers are forceful, unpredictable bodies of water.  If you’re looking to swim, there are much safer places to be than in the rivers, such as local pools and lifeguarded beaches.

Download Safe Kids USA’s free water safety program; Start Safe. It is a free, educational program designed to teach children ages 2 to 4 and their families about water safety and provides educators the tools they need to deliver important water safety information.