The warm weather is finally deciding to stick around. Which means it is pool time! What a fun activity for the whole family. But, it can also be a dangerous one as well. That is why it is important to be knowledgeable when it comes to swimming safety.

According to the CDC, drowning is the 5th most unintentional death cause in the United States. One out of every five children under the age of 14 who pass away does so from drowning. How can you lower the risks?

Here are some great tips from poolsafety.gov and the American Red Cross:

1. Before your kids get in the water, make sure they know how to swim. There are plenty of locations in Topeka and NE Kansas to teach your child how to swim. If they don’t, have them wear a life preserver. Even if it is in a swimming pool, they are not immune to an accident.
2. NEVER leave your kids alone. Make sure there is a responsible adult that is watching what is going on at all times when a child is near the pool. That also means that the adult should NOT be texting, or playing games on their phone.
3. Stay away from drains. Clothing can get caught, which makes it more prone to something bad happening.
4. Maintain your pool. When the pool is not in use, secure it like you don’t want anyone in it, like a locked vehicle. And make sure you are checking the levels daily and keeping the water clean.
5. CPR. If you can babysit, you should know CPR. it doesn’t matter what age you.

It is going to be a great summer. Make sure you enjoy it safely.