WINONA, Minn. (KWNO)-Forecasted hot and sunny weather makes the upcoming Fourth of July weekend a good one to spend on the water.
This is prompting reminders from community leaders to exercise caution around bodies of water. Chirs Warrington with the Coast Guard Auxiliary of Winona reminds boaters to wear life jackets, keep an eye on the weather, and make sure they’re not drinking and driving.
The Winona Family YMCA is offering water safety tips to help kids, teens, adults, and families enjoy lakes, rivers, and pools during the Fourth of July holiday weekend and throughout the summer months.
In the summer during COVID-19, water safety is important with a year of missed swim lessons, fewer pools with lifeguards, limited access to swimming lessons, more families spending time outside around the water, and pools in backyards.
Safety tips to practice in and around the water include below:
● Never swim alone.
● Lifeguarded beaches and pools provide another layer of safety besides parental supervision. They also ensure water chemistry/beach water has been tested and is safe.
● Constantly and actively watch children by a responsible adult.
● Always keep young children or non-swimmers within arm’s reach of parent or guardian.
● Remember inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket.
● Be wary of inflatables because a poke or blown valve can turn into a dangerous situation quickly for a child relying on it to float.
● Don’t engage in breath holding activities.
● Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in any water, rather use a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety.
● Enroll children and non-swimmers in swim lessons.
● Be mindful of the hazards of backyard pools with standing water around because kids can fall down or can’t get out and infants or preschoolers can climb or crawl in. To be safe:
o Install barriers around the pool like a fence.
o Know CPR.
○ Guarantee that every child in the backyard pool who cannot swim wears a U.S. Coastguard approved life jacket.
o Provide constant supervision.
o Make sure there is a way to climb out of the pool if it’s too tall to step out of.
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