May is National Water Safety Month

Water Safety Month

As a swimming pool owner, you know that safety is without a doubt the most important thing to remember, especially if you have young kids using your pool. While it’s crucial to be aware of water safety all year long, according to Safe Kids USA, drowning incidents increase by 89 percent from May through August. That’s why May has been named National Water Safety Month, which reminds parents, educators, kids and professionals about the importance of playing it safe in the pool.

What’s National Water Safety Month all about?
The month-long effort is headed by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals, the American Red Cross, the National Recreation & Park Association and the World Waterpark Association. All of these organizations are dedicated to ensuring that Americans enjoy safe, fun aquatic activities, at waterparks and resorts or in public swimming pools.

National Water Safety Month puts special emphasis on education about water safety, the importance of swimming lessons, parental supervision by the pool, following pool rules and using the “buddy system,” reports the WWA. Whether you need guidance on one or all of these topics, all of the sponsoring organizations offer guides and tips for helping your family stay safe while swimming this summer.

The official website for National Water Safety Month has a ton of helpful information, from the Safe Swimmer’s Pledge to water safety tips to swimming rules. The event’s social media pages are also frequently updated to provide swimmers and pool owners with up-to-date information to share with family and friends.

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Now is also a good time to sit down and review your pool’s rules if you haven’t done so already. You’ll have to ask yourself what kinds of behavior you consider acceptable in your pool, from jumping or diving into the water to using certain toys to wearing swim caps. Consider laminating this sheet and posting it prominently in your pool area to remind your family and friends of the rules

So how can you celebrate National Water Safety Month?
Download fact sheets, watch helpful tip videos or simply post information for your residents about safe swimming practices and then have a pool party and demonstrate all the safety tips you learned!