Red Cross Offers Water Safety Tips For Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner and many pools, including the and the

The American Red Cross wants everyone to have a safe weekend around the water and encourages families to keep the following tips in mind to have fun, and stay safe, while enjoying recreational water activities.

The local Red Cross encourages area residents to keep these safety tips in mind:

• Swim only in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy. Do not allow anyone to swim alone.
• Adults and children who are not strong swimmers should use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets.
• Prevent unsupervised access to the water. Install and use barriers around your home pool or hot tub.
• Maintain constant supervision. Always stay within arm’s reach of young children even when lifeguards are present.
• Watch out for the “dangerous too” signs – too tired, too much sun, too little hydration, too cold, too far from safety and too much strenuous activity.
• Know what to do in an emergency. If a child is missing, check the water first. Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Have the appropriate rescue equipment, a phone, life jackets, reaching pole and a first aid kit near the pool, and know how to use them.
• Learn Red Cross First Aid and CPR.

-- Information submitted by the Red Cross. Have news you'd like to share with Patch readers? Email information and photos to Editor Jessica Sinichak at jessica.sinichak@patch.com or visit our .