The American Red Cross-Knoxville Area Chapter encourages
you and your family to read and use these tips to help
keep you safe in and around the water. For more information
on staying safe year-round, call your American Red Cross
at (865) 584-2999.
General
Water Safety Tips
- Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay
safe in and around the water is to learn to swim. Always
swim with a buddy; never swim alone. The American Red
Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and
swimming ability. To enroll in a swim course, contact
your American Red Cross chapter.
- Swim in supervised areas only.
- Obey all rules and posted signs.
- Watch out for the "dangerous too's"--too tired, too
cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous
activity.
- Don't mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your
judgement, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming
and diving skills, and reduces your body's ability to
stay warm.
- Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts.
Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
- Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies.
Keeping
Children Safe In, On, and Around the Water
- Maintain constant supervision. Watch children around
any water environment (pool, stream, lake, tub, toilet,
bucket of water), no matter what skills your child has
acquired and no matter how shallow the water.
- Don't rely on substitutes. The use of flotation
devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental
supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift
position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving
the child in a dangerous situation.
- Enroll children in a water safety course or Learn
to Swim program. Your decision to provide your child
with an early aquatic experience is a gift that will
have infinite rewards. These courses encourage safe
practices. You can also purchase a Community Water
Safety manual at your American Red Cross
.
- Parents should take a CPR course. Knowing these skills
can be important around the water and you will expand
your capabilities in providing care for your child.
You can contact your local Red Cross to enroll in a
CPR for Infants and Child course.
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