Safety Tips for Birmingham Residents Hitting the Water on Memorial Day Weekend

Though weather forecasts suggest a cooler Memorial Day Weekend temperature wise, many backyard and neighborhood pools, and even some beaches, will officially open this weekend. And that can mean danger for many children and adults not used to the water, or those that could use a refresher on safety, according to Goldfish Swim Schools co-Founder Chris McCuiston.

“A dip in the pool, enjoying a boat ride or hitting the beach makes for great summer memories. But being around water means always being vigilant about safety," said McCuiston, who started the Birmingham-based school with his wife, Jenny, in 2006. 

Here are the top-five tips he offers parents for keeping kids safe around the water.

• Responsible adult supervision is essential. An adult should always have their eyes on children whenever they are in or around water.
• Pools should have proper safety barriers and life-saving equipment. Unauthorized or unsupervised access to pools is a common cause of tragedies. Barriers such as isolation fencing with a secure gate should be installed around any backyard pool, McCuiston insists. And a reaching pole and life ring are also important tools to assist swimmers in trouble.
• Learn CPR and keep a phone nearby. Seconds are crucial to saving a life or preventing serious injury in the water. The ability to quickly perform CPR on a potential drowning victim and contact emergency responders will significantly increase the chance of helping kids survive an accident in the water. The American Red Cross offers an online database of local CPR classes at www.redcross.org/CPR-Training.
• Always wear a life jacket when on a boat or open water. Not only is it the law, but children on watercraft need to wear a life jacket. Ninety percent of drowning victims from a boating or water accident could be alive today if they had worn one, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
• Learn to swim. Parents that can swim are far more likely to be able to assist children in an emergency. And children with basic swimming skills are far less likely to drown.

"Following common-sense rules and taking extra steps like learning CPR can save a life and make this a great summer in the water,” said McCuiston, who now oversees 10 Goldfish Swim Schools in Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Each offers year-round swim instruction for children ages four months to age 12, and "jumpstart" clinics are available to learn and refine basic skills. Visit the company's website.

The Forecast

The National Weather Service predicts high temperatures in the 60s with partly sunny skies on both Saturday and Sunday. Temperatures should climb to or near 70-degrees with sun all day Monday. Lows will be in the 50s.