This week we had another tough reminder of how important it
is to watch your kids around water. Drowning incidents, sometimes fatal, are
almost always preventable. The Arizona Multihousing Association has once again
partnered with SRP and the Drowning Prevention Coalition of Arizona to educate
kids and adults about water safety, especially in apartment community swimming
pools.
This year, keeping kids safe around water can be as easy as
A-B-C.
Adult supervision —
While you are visiting your community pool, designate one
responsible adult who is dedicated to watching the kids around water. The
“Water Watcher” should have a whistle or ribbon, something to remind themselves
they are responsible for the safety of kids in water. This also means no
drinking alcohol, talking on the phone or texting.
Barriers to water —
When you bring kids down to the pool, be sure to close the
pool gate completely. We don’t want kids to get in or out without an adult.
Every community pool has a locking gate. It is our responsibility to keep that
gate closed for the safety of all neighbors.
Classes for swimming and CPR —
Take time to teach kids to swim. Starting at a young age,
kids can learn water safety to help them in case of an emergency.
Take a refresher course if you are not a strong swimmer. If
you plan to have kids around water this summer, sign up for a CPR class.