Most of us have already felt the summer heat, but the first day of summer is actually Saturday, June 20, when the Sun reaches the northernmost point from the equator. With the summer upon us, families and children get excited about swimming and other water activities, and we have to be mindful and prepare ourselves for swimming safety. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the U.S., and fatal drowning remains the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children 14 and younger.

“All year long, but most especially during these summer months, we want to remind everyone to be safe and cautious in the water,” says Axis President and CEO Dirk Lee. “A lot of people might have plans with family or kids this summer, and we just want everyone to have fun and stay safe!”

Swimming is fun, keeps the body active and healthy, and is a great way to spend time with family and friends. We put together a list of water safety tips for our Axis family and friends so that you can enjoy your summer and, more importantly, stay safe:

12 Water Safety Tips for Families

1. Teach your kids to be safe in the water and ensure every family member learns to swim well.
2. Always keep your eyes on children while in or around water, such as the public pool, your home pool, oceans, lakes, rivers, and even while in the bath (for younger children).
3. Avoid using cell phones and other distractions while watching children or others. Drowning can happen in a split second and often occurs quietly, so stay alert and be close enough to reach the child(ren) you are watching at all times.
4. Never swim alone; always swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present or use the “buddy system.” Even for children and adults who are competent swimmers, this ensures extra safety.
5. Make sure children and teens understand it is safer to only swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards or adults.
6. Young children and inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets or vests while in or around water. Air-filled or foam toys are not safety devices and should not be used in place of a life jacket/vest.
7. If you have a pool at home, secure it with appropriate barriers/fencing.
8. Avoid drinking alcohol before or during swimming, boating, or water skiing. Alcohol impairs judgment, coordination, and balance and can increase risk of drowning.
9. Avoid breath-holding games. Make sure children understand holding their breath for long periods of time before or while swimming is dangerous and can cause them to pass out and/or drown.
10. Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could save someone’s life.
11. Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. and use sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
12. Remove floats, balls, and other toys from the pool and surrounding area immediately after use so children are not tempted to enter the pool area unsupervised.

These tips were pulled from American Red Cross and CDC resources and you can find more information at their websites.

From everyone at Axis Energy Services, have fun this summer and stay safe!