It’s Memorial Day and at Life Saver Pool Fence, we’d like to take a moment to remember those veterans who we’ve lost. We are grateful for their dedicated service to our country. Above anything else, this is an important time to remember the sacrifices that have been made for our freedom.

In addition to this day of remembrance, Memorial Day is often seen as sort of the “unofficial” beginning of the summer swimming season. That means a three-day weekend for a lot of people. There will be barbecues, family reunions… and of course, pool parties.

We’ve written a lot about water safety on this blog and Memorial Day is the perfect time for a refresher. We love having fun in the water, but this is also a great opportunity to revisit some important safety tips just before the start of summer. After all, May is National Water Safety Month.

Today, we’d like to share some of our most relevant pieces to help keep you having fun yet staying safe:

First, Let’s Talk About Active Supervision

As our Pay Attention! Active Supervision Saves Lives  article points out, drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of four. Most people would be shocked to learn that, in 60% of child drowning incidents, the child was being supervised by one or more adults. Active supervision is critical for keeping little ones safe near the water.

What Do You Do If You Notice Someone Drowning? 

Our next important piece is How to Save Someone from Drowning. The fact is, most people don’t actually understand how to handle this dangerous situation. It’s not as simple as grabbing a person out of the water. Read this article to give yourself a better idea of how to save a life in case you are ever put in this life-or-death situation.

Did You Realize that Floaties are Dangerous?

It’s true. Floaties and water wings give both children and parents a false sense of security. Instead, you should only use a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Read 4 Reasons Why Floaties Are A Bad Idea to learn more.

Be Careful if You’re Hitting the Open Seas

Boating can be fun, but also very dangerous. Read our 5 Tips for Boating Safety to discover the basics of staying safer on the open water.

Who Let The Dogs Out?

Don’t forget your best friend! Playful pooches need help too! That why we wrote about some basic Water Safety Tips for Dogs.

Install a Self-Closing Pool Gate 

Did you know that A Self-Closing Pool Gate Can Save a Child’s Life? That’s right! This simple safety feature provides a safeguard, even if you accidentally leave the door ajar.

Stay Safe This Memorial Day Weekend… and Beyond!

These are all great tips for staying safe near the water. Of course, there’s always an opportunity to increase your safety. Don’t put your eggs in one, or even two, baskets! Use layers of protection to further limit danger around bodies of water.

Here are some of the other layers of protection we recommend:

• Add high locks to all of the doors and windows leading to the pool.
• Add alarms on the doors and windows that access the pool.
• Place an extra alarm inside the pool to warn if someone is in the water.
• An alarm like the Safety Turtle can be worn by your child as an additional safety measure.
• Everyone should be properly trained, including you. Swimming lessons should be given to your child as early as you and your pediatrician feel comfortable. Infant swim lessons start training babies to roll over and float earlier than you might think.
• Having CPR training can save a life. Make sure that anyone who may have the role of Active Supervisor is also trained in case of an emergency.

There you have it! If you’re anywhere near the water this Memorial Day weekend… or any time during the summer, keep this advice close at hand. You’ll be glad you did.