Healthy & Safe Swimming Week is May 22- 26

Prevent Drowning this Summer

The Westerville Fire Division (WFD) is joining the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in encouraging residents to help protect loved ones from drowning.

Education is Key

Learning the basics of swimming and water safety is important for all ages. Westerville Parks & Recreation offers a full roster of aquatics classes (see pages 3839). Additionally, consider signing up for a CPR course at www.redcross.org or www.heart.org.

Watch Children Closely, Enclose Pools

Be sure to designate a responsible adult to supervise children or vulnerable individuals around water at all times. The adult should fully understand who is under their supervision and know to keep a close eye on them at all times. When not in use, pools, hot tubs, bathtubs, etc., should be blocked from children with a secure enclosure, locked and alarmed doors.

Wear Life Jackets

Life jackets can reduce the risk of drowning for swimmers of all ages and abilities. The CDC encourages parents and guardians not to rely on air-filled or foam water toys as they are not intended for safety.

Read more about water safety at www.cdc.gov/drowning.