Safety first

Did you know May is National Water Safety Month?

It’s not exactly the sort of holiday you circle on the calendar, unlike Christmas or Halloween. But as we well know at the Granger-Hunter Water Improvement District, it’s important to think about water safety as we move into the recreational season.

Whether you enjoy swimming, fishing, boating on our waterways or splashing around in a neighbor’s swimming pool, you should always put safety first.

Here are a few tips:

• Get your children enrolled in swimming classes. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests enrolling little ones as young as 1, if they’re comfortable with it, so they can become familiar with water. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for young people, including toddlers and teens. Studies show that swimming lessons save lives.
• Don’t let young people play in the water unsupervised. Designate an adult to keep watch, and come prepared for emergencies. This is a good time to refresh your CPR training and to stock up on sunblock, sunglasses and other protective gear.
• Make sure to take along something to drink. Although many people think being in water means staying hydrated, that’s not so. Water requires you to exert yourself and, if you’re like most people, you don’t often stop to replenish the fluids you’ve lost.
• Speaking of lost fluids, be sure to leave the water and find a toilet if you need to go to the bathroom. The same goes with leaving other contaminants and litter behind.
• Remember that old saying about an ounce of prevention? Check out the fence around your pool and make sure it’s kid-proof. Ensure everyone who rides in your boat has a life-jacket. Read up on the signs of drowning, which is often much more subtle than the cry-for-help scenario that plays out on movie screens.

Enjoy your time on the water this summer!