By Deborah S. Tukua
www.hollycreekbooks.com

Memorial Day weekend marks the beginning of the swimming season for many through out the country. Exercising caution and care will help make time spent in the water enjoyable. Here are some safety tips to follow from the American Red Cross.

· Never swim alone or allow your child to swim without supervision. A person in distress in the water needs help within the first six minutes.
· A nonswimmer requires a considerable amount of shallow water to play in, without steep drop-offs. Mark off safe swimming areas, if possible or explain the swimming boundaries to children.
· A nonswimmer should not go in water above shoulder height even with the use of floatation devices.
· Swimmers should always swim diagonally across a current and with its flow, even though they may come to shore some distance from their entry point. This fact is particularly true of river and tidewater swimming, where currents run parallel to shore.
· Don’t swim when you are overheated or overtired.
· Keep basic rescue lifesaving equipment readily available such as a ring buoy or backboard.

Have a safe and enjoyable holiday!

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