A soak or swim in cool water is tempting this time of year – but doing so in a swimming pool, the lake or the Rio Grande should be done with caution in mind.
Las Cruces firefighters and police encourage swimmers to enjoy their water activities safely and always with adult supervision. Police and fire recommend following these and other safety tips:
- Never leave children or elderly unsupervised in or near a swimming pool, hot tub or any body of water.
- Do not assume that other children, or another adult, will watch over your child’s safety.
- Do not consider anyone “drown proof” because they’ve had swimming lessons.
- Do not rely on flotation devices, such as Floaties, as a substitute for supervision.
- Keep rescue equipment easily accessible.
- Remove toys from pool after use so children are not tempted to reach for them.
- Refrain from consuming alcohol while swimming or supervising others.
- Remove pool covers completely before use and securely cover after each use.
- If possible, remove or secure ladder to above-ground pools to keep children from entering without supervision.
- Properly secure or lock doors and gates that lead to pools and hot tubs.
- Ensure that babysitters and all other users know, and will follow, pool safety rules.
- Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and encourage others to do the same.
- Be aware of strong currents and debris that make river activities potentially hazardous.
- Do not use canals or irrigation ditches for water recreation.
- If boating – canoeing, kayaking, rafting, etc. – always wear a floatation device and never boat alone.
- Avoid diving into unknown or murky waters as they could be shallow and may cause injury.
- When supervising children at play avoid distractions such as reading, texting, gaming or social media use.
- Have a cell phone handy and call 911 immediately in an emergency.
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