May is National Water Safety Month!

With Memorial Day and the unofficial start of Summer just around the corner, more of us are spending time outdoors. To keep cool at the shore or by the pool, it’s important to remember some basic water risk prevention tips. To help you and your family avoid danger when gathering around water, Security Specialists has these ten water risk prevention tips to remember during this National Water Safety Month!

1. If you have kids, teach them water safety and swimming skills as early as possible and provide them with regular refresher courses.
2. Before you head to the water, it’s a good idea to be prepared for any danger by learning to perform CPR on children and adults and update those skills regularly.
3. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with and understand the basics of lifesaving so that you can assist in a pool emergency.
4. Never…ever… leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water.
5. Always appoint a “designated watcher” to monitor children during social gatherings at or near pools, lakes or the ocean.
6. If you have a pool or spa be sure to Install a four-foot or taller fence around the area and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools or spas.
7. If you have doors and windows that open to a pool area, equip them with alarms.
8. If possible, install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water.
9. Install a poolside phone, preferably a cordless model, with emergency numbers programmed into speed-dial.
10. Make sure to install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.