May marks the start of National Water Safety Month 2021. This is a time to take a closer look at water awareness and precautions. As we near the end of the month, we would be remiss if we never mentioned that this is our favorite month of the year! This is a time to take a closer look at water awareness and precautions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about one in five people who die from drowning are children aged 14 and younger. Furthermore, for every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries.
Learning about National Water Safety Month 2021
National Water Safety Month has a long and storied history of highlighting potential dangers that swimmers and boaters may face. This official journey began in June 2003, when the World Waterpark Association launched its first National Water Safety Week.
This continued for four years, until the program expanded. According to the official website:
In May 2007, the National Recreation and Park Association, which had been celebrating National Aquatics Week in July from 2004 to 2006, decided, along with the WWA, that a month-long water safety initiative in May would be best because it’s when swim activity increases across the country. That’s when National Water Safety Month was officially born.
In May 2009, the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals (now the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance) joined the partnership, adding waterparks, public pools, and backyard pools to the monthly water safety initiative.
Finally, in May 2010, the American Red Cross joined the National Water Safety Month coalition as a key partner.
You can learn more at the official website for National Water Safety Month 2021: https://nwsm.phta.org/.
How Can I Help?
As you can probably imagine, National Water Safety Month is a pretty big deal for a pool safety company like ours. This month-long event shines a light on the many potentially dangerous aspects of swimming that often go overlooked.
To help, the best first step is always education. Spreading awareness and learning new skills are a major help during National Water Safety Month.
Swimming Lessons
Swimming lessons can save lives, no matter your age. We recently wrote about basic water competency. This provides an excellent checklist for anyone looking to improve their water safety skills. With a professional instructor, anyone can learn the simple yet critical skills required to stay safe and afloat. These skills include how to control your breathing, how to float, and how to enter and exit the water. These skills can be tougher than many people realize.
Mesh Pool Fence
Finally, let’s talk pool fences! While no one safety device can fully ensure water safety, a strong mesh pool fence works as a powerful layer of protection for your home. These fences help to keep kids and pets away from the dangerous water. To learn more, simply take a look around the website. Believe it or not, we’re pretty big fans of pool fences at Life Saver Pool Fence!
Pool Alarms
Beyond a pool fence, there are other safety precautions to consider. One of these precautions is pool alarms, which are extremely important. According to the CDC, aside from certain birth conditions, drowning is actually the leading cause of death for kids under four years of age.
Installing a pool alarm can be invaluable for parents and guardians. There are several varieties of alarms to choose from. For instance, some can be placed on windows and doors that lead to the pool area, and there are even some that can be directly worn by the child.
Learn more via our pool alarm blog.
Active Supervision
Finally, the best safety precaution is, well, attention. Active supervision requires an attentive and focused adult to keep a close eye on kids who are in or near the water. This person should avoid all distractions, such as phones or conversations.
