It’s finally starting to warm up here in Massachusetts, and everyone is ready to start taking part in quintessential summertime activities. Break out your iced tea and lemonade, but make sure that you brush up on your pool safety before you or a family member goes swimming.

An afternoon at the pool can be a great activity for kids and adults alike, but you need to make sure that you put safety first. According to the CDC, there were over three thousand mom-boating related fatal unintentional drownings in the US, and one in five of those fatalities were under the age of 14. A quick review of pool safety guidelines could help you prevent a serious situation, so here are some basic guidelines from the Red Cross and Safe Kids Worldwide:

Ensure that children are always supervised

Kids love the pool, but you need to make sure that they are always supervised when they are swimming or around water. If at home, make sure that you are outside with your children, and keep distractions to a minimum – it only takes a second for an incident to occur, so you need to be vigilant about watching for signs of distress.

If you are going to a beach or public pool, make sure that there will be a certified lifeguard on duty, and have kids use the buddy system for safety.

Enroll in swimming or water safety classes

Knowing proper swimming techniques is vitally important, so make sure that children learn them at a young age by enrolling them in swimming or water safety classes. These are offered at many locations, including the Red Cross.

Adults that will be supervising children should also consider taking safety courses in first aid and CPR – hopefully you will never need to use the knowledge that you gain, but having that know-how could save a loved one’s life someday, and that’s well worth spending a few hours of your time at a class.

Have the right tools when around water

When you’re ready to hit the pool or the beach, make sure that you bring all of the necessary equipment. Grab a large beach bag and pack the following items:

• Plenty of water for hydration. It is best to avoid caffeinated and alcoholic drinks if you will be swimming or supervising children.
• Protection for your skin. Sun tan lotion, large t-shirts, and brimmed hats will all decrease sun exposure, which could lead to skin cancer over long periods.
• A first aid kit. You never know when someone will get hurt, so make sure to have first aid necessities on hand.
• A cell phone. If you need to call for help, make sure that you can do so by keeping your cell phone charged and with you at all times.
• Flotation devices. If you are supervising children, make sure that you have reaching or throwing equipment on-hand. For young kids, a US Coast Guard approved life jacket is a “must have” item!

Now that you’ve brushed up on your water safety, go ahead and grab your bathing suit! Make sure that you stay tuned to the Vargas and Vargas Insurance Blog throughout the summer for more safety tips, including grill safety, road trip safety, and more. And if you know anyone else that’s going to spend time at the pool this summer, make sure to use the “Share this” buttons below to post this to your Facebook or Twitter and spread the word about the importance of swimming safety!