As summer time rolls around a majority of summer activities involve being in and around water. The Henry County Fire Department wants to remind everyone of some water safety tips.

  Drowning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death for children ages 1-14 years, and the fifth leading cause for people of all ages. So water safety should be a concern no matter where you and your family swim.

  General water safety:

Have a phone handy. No matter where you are swimming, the ability to call 911 in an emergency could be a lifesaver.

  Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). It can mean the difference between life and death. In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life. CPR performed by bystanders has been shown to save lives and improve outcomes in drowning victims. The more quickly CPR is started, the better the chance of improved outcomes.

  Enroll children in swimming lessons at an early age. Risk of drowning is decreased by as much as 88% when children aged 1-4 years take swimming lessons. Adults can also benefit from refresher courses. Many cities have swimming lessons available through local parks and recreation programs as well as gyms with pools. You can also check with the Red Cross on registering for a swim class in your area.

  Supervise when in or around water. Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water. Supervisors of preschool children should provide “touch supervision,” be close enough to reach the child at all times. Because drowning occurs quickly and quietly, adults should not be involved in any other distracting activity (such as reading, playing cards, talking on the phone, or mowing the lawn) while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.

  Seizure Disorder Safety. If you or a family member has a seizure disorder, provide one-on-one supervision around water, including swimming pools. Consider taking showers rather than using a bath tub for bathing. Wear life jackets when boating.

  Use only U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets. Young and inexperienced swimmers may want to use a life jacket. Do not use any sort of air-filled or foam toys. They are not designed to keep swimmers safe.

  Swim with a buddy. It’s a best practice for swimmers of all ages, including adults.

  Avoid alcohol. It impairs your judgment, balance, coordination, and your body’s ability to stay warm. Avoid it when swimming and supervising children.

  Enter the water feet-first. Serious injuries – including paralysis – can occur from diving head first into unknown water and hitting the bottom. Enter headfirst only when the area is clearly marked for diving and has no obstructions.

  Swimming pools:

  Secure with appropriate barriers. It is best to install a four-foot or taller fence around backyard pools and use self-closing and self-latching gates that open away from the pool.

  Consider safety alarms. If your house opens directly into the pool area, you may want to install a door alarm or self-closing door. Using a surface wave or underwater alarm will also give you added protection from accidental falls into the pool.

  If a child is missing, always check the pool first. If a child has fallen into the pool, every second counts in preventing an accidental drowning.

  Empty portable pools when not use. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water. Make sure all portable inflatable and baby pools are drained and put away immediately after use.

  Remove toys from the pool when it is not in use. They can attract young children into the pool. It’s best to keep them stored out of sight.

  Keep a safety kit handy. A first aid kit that includes a pair of scissors to cut hair, clothing, or a pool cover should be kept within reach in case of an emergency. Lifesaving equipment such as life rings and reaching poles are also recommended.

  Stay away from pool drains. Limbs, hair, or clothing can become entangled if a drain is faulty. If you suspect they may not be functioning properly, ask your pool service expert to inspect them. Pool safety has detailed information on preventing drain entrapments.

  Follow posted safety rules. These usually include no running, pushing or dunking.

 Oceans, lakes, and rivers:

  Swim near lifeguards. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the chance of drowning at a beach protected by trained lifeguards is less than one in 18 million per year.

  Stay within designated swimming areas. They are usually marked by ropes or buoys and are more likely to be free of weeds, rocky underwater terrain, and other dangers.

  Beware of rip currents. They are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore that can occur at any beach with breaking waves.

  Don’t swim in polluted water. Pay attention to warning flags or alerts about contaminated water. If you are unsure whether water is clean enough to swim in, it is best to not get in.

  Know your limits. Swimming in open water is much different than in a pool. Cold water, currents, and other dangerous conditions can challenge even the strongest swimmers. If you are unsure about your limits, you may want to start out slowly and not venture too far from shore.

  For more information on water safety go to www.safekids.org/watersafety.