23 Jun Let’s Go Swimming
Swimming is great exercise for the whole family. It improves cardiovascular health, burns calories and builds muscle – without negatively impacting your joints. Remember to check local clubs and facilities for access to swimming pools in your area, and remember the following recommendations from the U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services to help you and your family enjoy swimming season. Swim safely.
• Take swim lessons if you don’t know how to swim. Sign your kids up for lessons as soon as they are old enough.
• Swim near a lifeguard and never swim alone.
• Don’t drink alcohol if you are swimming or watching children in the water.
• Use floating toys like water wings and noodles for fun – not for safety. Don’t use them in place of life jackets.
• Watch out for rip currents. A rip current is when the water pulls you away from shore. If you get caught in a rip current, swim along the shoreline until you are out of the current, then swim to shore.
• Watch children carefully.
• Make sure at least one adult is watching when children are in or around water.
• Don’t read or use a phone while you are watching young children.
• Watch all children in the water, even if they know how to swim.
• If you have a pool, install 4-sided fencing that’s at least 4 feet high and separates the pool from the house or yard. Use self-closing and self-latching
gates that open outward and are out of reach of children.
• Check water and weather conditions before going swimming.
• Don’t swim in the ocean, lakes, or rivers after heavy rain. Water is more likely to be polluted after a rainstorm.
• Check for signs or warnings about bacteria or other pollution in the water.
• Get out of the water right away if you hear thunder or see lightning. Strong winds can also be dangerous.
• Protect yourself and others from germs in the water.
• Try not to get water in your mouth.
• Make sure everyone is clean before swimming. Shower with soap. Wash your hands after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
• Take your kids on bathroom breaks or check diapers often. Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area.
• Protect your skin from the sun.
• Wear plenty of sunscreen with a minimum SPF of 15.
• Reapply sunscreen every couple of hours and after swimming or sweating.
For more information, visit http://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/swimming/
index.html.