By Kelli Nesbitt, Parks & Recreation Marketing Coordinator
As we approach summer, it is essential to keep your family safe when enjoying water-related activities. Drowning is the country’s fifth-leading cause of unintentional injury deaths, and about one in five who die from drowning are 14 years old or younger.
During National Water Safety Month, the City of College Station Parks & Recreation Department reminds you to be careful around swimming pools, ponds, rivers, lakes, and oceans. Here are four simple ways to be safer in the water:
1. Swim Lessons
Formal lessons significantly reduce drowning risks among young children. We offer swim lessons to all ages throughout June, July, and the first week of August.
2. Appropriate Supervision
Designate a responsible adult to watch young children playing in or around water.
3. Learn CPR
CPR performed by bystanders saves lives and improves outcomes in drowning situations.
4. Life Jackets
Half of all boating deaths can be prevented if passengers use life jackets.
Here are some free resources that can help integrate water safety rules into your family’s daily routine:
- American Red Cross has developed a free, 20-minute online training program called “Water Safety for Parents and Caregivers.” The ARC’s website also offers helpful tips for emergencies and includes important swimming guidelines.
- Colin’s Hope is a drowning prevention non-profit organization that provides resources, information, and fundraising to help prevent drowning deaths. Its website offers prevention tips, safety resources, and even a quiz to test your knowledge.
- Pool Safely is a national public education campaign launched by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries, and entrapments. Its website offers essential safety information.
The Parks & Recreation Department is devoted to teaching people to swim correctly, safely, and confidently. For more information, visit cstx.gov/pools or call 979-764-3540.
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