·         report any missing children to the lifeguard immediately

·         Obey the warning signs and notices around your area they are for everyone’s safety. Wear proper swimming attire never wear long, loose clothing

·         Stop swimming at the first sign of bad weather; always pay attention to local weather condition and forecasts

·         Always listen to the lifeguards advice and heed any warnings if in doubt ask the lifeguard to explain something that you do not understand

·         Stay away from piers, pilling, and diving plat forms when in the water, if you’re aware about water safety teach caregivers  about the potential hazards to young children

·         Watch for aquatic life. Water plants and animals can be dangerous

·         Don’t try to swim against current if caught in one. Swim gradually out of ht e current by across it

·         Don’t rely on lifeguards to supervise your children. They are responsible for overall safety of many people and cannot spend adequate time watching each child

·         Teach your children do not enter spas or hot tubs. They are dangerous for young children also teach your children good pool safety habits, such as a no running, dunking, pushing, or jumping on others

·         Do not consider air-filled devices and toys, such as water wings, or even approved flotation devices as substitutes for adult supervision such a devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath your child, exposing them to danger also do not assume your children can’t drown because they have had swimming lessons or are wearing flotation devices

·         Do not dive from the side of any water edges unless the water is at least 1.5 m ( 4.5 ft ) deep

·         Never allow your children to swim immediately after eating also do not allowed to children to play as though they are drowning a false alarm may mask a real emergency and delay rescue

·         If you have a private swimming pool, the yard swimming pool must be surround with a barrier that is at least 1.7 m ( 5 ft )high and has child-proof gate latches the latch should be self closing and placed at the top of the gate so that is inaccessible to children .also keep area outside the fence free of objects that could help children climb over the fence and gain access to the pool these items include chair, tables, benches, and tree branches never leave a gate to pool area propped open

·         Keep several rescue equipment such as ring boy shepherd’s hook by the pool area and caregivers such as grandparents and baby sitters should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)

A swimming pool or beach or even any kind of water pit has enough space to pour your kids can be an invitation to a drowning incident for your children there is no magical method to preventing a drowning incident barriers and fences as well as constant adult supervision can help to avoid aquatic tragedies.

 In aquatics world there is no substitute for direct adult supervision by a parent, baby-sitter. Or caregivers, especially around water. Watch your children closely at all times! Enjoy summer is here safely

Article by

O.W. Palitha Ariyarathna

Rescuer and deep sea diver