Summer isn’t over yet, and neither are all the fun activities that happen in or around the water. And while taking a dip in a cool pool during these hot months is refreshing, making sure you know the proper water safety steps can help keep you and your family safe while you’re enjoying the water.
That’s why we have officially partnered with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to promote the Pool Safely campaign. Pool Safely is a national public education campaign that works with partners around the country to reduce child drownings and entrapment in swimming pools and spas. If you have a passion for water and safety, have children who like to swim or just want to help save lives, this is a great campaign for you to participate in!
Here are some of our favorite things you can do to participate in Pool Safely:
1. Take the Pledge. Pools, rivers and oceans are amazing places to go to on a hot summer day, but they can be dangerous if you are not prepared. Here are some tips:
- Make sure you always designate a water watcher for kids around the water
- Ensure you and your kids know how to swim
- Learn CPR
- Remove portable ladders when not in use
- Inspect permanent pools for proper fencing and safe drain covers.
Click here to take the pledge!
2. Attend a Pool Safely Event. Don’t be embarrassed if you can’t swim, you are not alone. Every year the World Waterpark Association hosts the World’s Largest Swimming Lesson. NRPA staff attended this event with Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission (MNCPPC) on June 21, 2018 at the Fairlands Sports & Aquatics Complex in Laurel, Maryland, and there were around 180 individuals registered for the event. It was amazing to see them all take the pledge together with the U.S. Olympic Team member, Maddy Crippen. Adults and kids of all ages got a chance to get in the pool and learn some swimming skills. It just showed us that it’s never too late to learn how to swim! There are many other events to help spread the Pool Safely message like conferences, local safety days and more. You can find upcoming events near you here.
3. Educate the People Around You. Have a neighborhood Pool Safely party, designate a week of Pool Safely for summer camp or just have an event at your local park and recreation agency to share information that could save a life. You can access brochures, tip cards, stickers, posters, advertisements, public service announcements and more here. For those of you who can’t get your children off the iPad or phone, check out the Pool Safely App. The Adventures of Splish and Splash is a fun game thathelps your child learn what to do (and not to do) in and around pools and spas. You can also order temporary tattoos of Splish and Splash, mini beach balls and bookmarks for the kids! You could also take a listen and share one of your new favorite songs:
These are just a few tips to get you started with Pool Safely, but there is so much more you can do! Please take the steps to join this national public education campaign to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries and entrapments.
Elizabeth Gonzales is NRPA’s Aquatics Program Specialist.