Wherever you are during the summer—at the beach, at the community pool, or even at your home pool—kids will have a blast in the water. Watching kids play near water can be stressful for parents though. Here are some ways to cut down on that stress and ensure a safe and relaxing summer by the water.
Before the summer season you can get started by putting your kids in swimming classes. Knowing that your child is a competent swimmer will give you great peace of mind.
Take a CPR class at your local fire station or hospital. Again, this will give you peace of mind to know what to do if there is an emergency.
Keep a charged cell phone with you at all times. This way, should there be an emergency, you can quickly call 9-1-1 or an emergency contact.
Be sure that your children always swim in areas supervised by licensed lifeguards.
Teach your kids to always ask permission before playing in water, and be sure they always swim with a buddy. Even more experienced swimmers should have a buddy, especially when in the ocean. Be sure that they have constant adult supervision while in the water. This can be the difference between life and death!
Many people don’t think of sun damage as a safety issue while they are swimming. However, according the skincancer.org, it takes only 5 sunburns to double your risk of developing skin cancer. Here are some ways to protect your skin this summer:
-Stay in the shade as much as possible. The most important times to seek shade are from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
-Apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you plan on going outside. This allows your body to soak up the sunscreen before being exposed to UV rays. Reapply sunscreen every two hours, and more frequently when you are in the water.
-Big hats and UV blocking sunglasses are great ways to protect your face and eyes from harmful rays.
-Avoid tanning. A tan is the body’s response to injury from UV rays and can result in cancer later in life.
-If they are prone to sunburns, have your children wear long sleeved swimwear. That protection will benefit them greatly later in life.
