Summertime Swim Safety Tips For NJ Pools, Lakes

NEW JERSEY — As the temperature rises, more people are venturing outside to enjoy the nice weather and water activities in New Jersey. However, having fun in the water can be dangerous if safety precautions are not taken.

With summer in full swing, now is the time for parents and caregivers to reinforce the importance of water safety and provide their children with the necessary skills to keep them safe in and around water.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning kills 4,000 people in the United States each year, with many of these deaths occurring despite supervision.

A reported total of 14 drownings have occurred in New Jersey in the first few weeks of the 2022 summer season.

Read more: 10 Drownings In A Month Prompts Calls For Change At NJ Beaches, Lakes

Following the string of fatalities, some New Jersey officials have called for water safety instruction to be made a mandatory component of the state Department of Education's health and physical education curriculum.

Following the closure of many pools last summer due to COVID-19, officials want to ensure that parents, caregivers, and children make water safety a top priority as they return to the water this year.

Here are six tips to ensure a safe and enjoyable swimming experience for all:

1. Never swim alone: When children are swimming, make sure they are constantly supervised. Teach your children that they should only swim in areas where a lifeguard is on duty or where a responsible adult agrees to keep an unobstructed eye on the children in the water.
2. Keep an eye on your children whenever they are in or near water: Whether taking a bath or swimming in a pool or lake, keep your children within arm's reach at all times. Don’t leave toys or floats in the pool when it’s not in use. Kids may fall into the pool trying to reach them.
3. Practice pool safety measures: Surround your pool with a fence or other barrier. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends securing your pool with a 4-foot-high fence or barrier with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
4. Don't play breath-holding games: Children should not hold their breath for an extended period of time while swimming, as this can result in drowning and has several other serious physical consequences.
5. Take swimming lessons: Swimming lessons and water safety classes can help reduce the risk of drowning. The ability of a child to float and turn their heads may mean the difference between life and death.
6. Wear a life jacket: When swimming in lakes or bodies of water with strong currents, inexperienced or non-swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

According to New Jersey officials, knowing some basic boating and swimming safety precautions can mean the difference between life and death.

“I just would ask family members … talk to your kids. Scare your kids. Scare them. Don’t even think about being polite. Sit them down and say, 'See what happened here? I don’t want this funeral in my house. I don’t want to have to bury a pair of brothers.’ And it’s my hope we can get through to the younger people on just understanding the risks,” said Mine Hill Mayor Sam Morris.

Lifeguards are usually on duty at community pools and beaches, but parents must also keep a close eye on their children, follow pool rules, and have young children swim near lifeguards so they can be seen.

Which beaches have lifeguards when? Check the 2022 Jersey Shore Beach Guide: Beach Badges And Parking

The Gateway Family YMCA recommends practicing the "reach or throw don't go" technique if someone is having difficulty in the pool. In an emergency, grab a pool skimmer, a lifesaver ring, or anything else to throw at the victim in the pool.

“Police work cooperatively to ensure a safe environment on and around Lake Hopatcong, and to be there when people need help. But we are not a replacement for common sense, and that is what water safety is all about. It’s about common sense,” said Morris County Sheriff James Gannon.

Following safety guidelines and taking proper precautions can help ensure that the summer is remembered for the good memories and fun it provided, rather than for a hospital visit.