May is Water Safety Month and the American Red Cross encourages families to prepare for the fast-approaching summer swim season by learning to be “water smart.” Before families head out to pools and parks, it’s important for all family members to learn and review critical water safety skills.

Important Water Safety Tips: 

• Nobody should ever swim alone – adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child.  

• It’s best to always designate a “water watcher” who will keep a close eye and constant attention on children and weaker swimmers in, on and around water until the next water watcher takes over. 

• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.  

• Reach or throw, don’t go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on. Don’t go in! You could be in danger of drowning yourself.

Go to redcross.org/watersafety for swim program information and a variety of resources.