With summer around the corner, water safety should be top of mind

Submitted by YMCA Buffalo Niagara

May is National Water Safety Month. YMCA Buffalo Niagara is encouraging parents to play an active role in promoting water safety, and providing these tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all.

•Make sure children know to always ask permission before going in or near the water. Teaching your children to be water smart is the first step in water safety – be sure they understand the importance of asking permission before going in or near the water.

•Never swim alone or without a water watcher. When children are swimming, make sure they are actively supervised at all times.  Teach your children that they should only swim in locations where a lifeguard is on duty, or where a responsible adult agrees to watch the children in the water without distractions.

•Supervise your children whenever they’re in or near water. Whether it’s bath time or taking a dip in a pool or waterfront, make sure your children are within arm’s reach at all times.

•Don’t engage in breath-holding activities. Both adults and children should not hold their breath for a prolonged amount of time while swimming, as this can be dangerous.

•Wear a life jacket. Inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

•Don’t jump in the water to save a friend who is struggling in deep water. If an adult or child finds their friend in deep water unexpectedly, their natural reaction may be to jump in the water to try to save them. Even if they are a great swimmer, a panicked person will overpower them, pulling the rescuer underwater. The Y’s “Safety Around Water” program teaches the “reach, throw, don’t go” concept of using a long object to reach for them and pull them to safety. By using this technique an adult or child can help their friend without compromising their own safety.

Locally founded in 1852, YMCA Buffalo Niagara is a charitable, community-based organization committed to providing programs designed to build a healthy spirit, mind and body for all. The YMCA's focus on youth development, healthy living and social responsibility is reflected in the variety of programs that are offered to all ages and abilities. A not-for-profit organization, YMCA Buffalo Niagara serves over 100,000 people annually through six membership branches and four camps throughout Western New York, as well as at over 50 community-based program sites.

For more information, visit www.YMCABN.org.