Many pools will open for the season this weekend and health officials are urging people to stay safe while they have fun in the sun.
Ryan Good, Aquatics Director at the Butler YMCA, says his number one tip for parents who take their children to a pool is to keep them at an arms-length away if they don’t know how to swim.
“Now, there is still a good chance of a drowning in that situation,” Good told our newsroom. “But, there’s a much better chance that if something does happen, a parent can quickly reach out, grab the child and pull them in.”
Good encourages parents to introduce their children to water as soon as possible.
“We run swim lesson programs from six months on,” he said. “It’s better to get the child used to the water early.”
Parents need to continue to be alert even after kids get out of the pool. Good says a secondary drowning can occur if water gets into your lungs.
“You don’t see it coming,” he said.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has dubbed this week “Healthy and Safe Swimming Week.”
Photo by Tim Pierce
