Summer is now underway, and this summer many Southwest Virginia residents will be taking advantage of the warm, sunny weather to enjoy a day at the pool. Many community pools across the region are now open for the Summer swimming season, and it is an appropriate time for all who will be visiting the pool this year to remember safety measures that can prevent accidental pool injuries or deaths.

If you and your family will be spending time at a community or home pool this summer, the American Red Cross encourages you and your family to learn to swim and swim well. It is also a good idea for at least one member of your family to be trained in first aid and CPR. For information on swimming lessons and CPR classes in your area, visit www.redcross.org or contact your local American Red Cross chapter. Even if you and your children know how to swim, it is always best to swim in areas with lifeguards.

Most children are mature enough to learn to swim between the ages of 4 and 6; however, parent and child swim classes can include registrants even younger to lay the foundation for future swimming lessons. While children are learning to swim, they should be within arm’s reach of an adult at all times.

When choosing water toys like water wings or inner tubes, parents should remember that the only truly safe water accessory is a personal flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Children who are not strong swimmers and rely on water wings or other inflatable toys in the pool should wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD). A U.S. Coast Guard label will identify an approved PFD, and in the Coast Guard stamp, you can find the weight the device is designed to support. Even if a child is wearing a PFD, children should never be left unattended around or in the water.

For adults, it is important to remember that it is never too late to learn to swim. Your local Red Cross chapter may be able to point you to an adult-only swimming class. Drowning occurs most often when the victim is not planning to swim or be in the water. It is also important to remember to avoid alcohol when swimming or around a pool. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance and coordination and impairs your swimming ability.

For safety in and around home pools, a phone should be kept nearby as well as basic lifesaving equipment such as a pole, rope, and PFDs. CPR instructions and local emergency numbers should be clearly posted near the pool area. Home pools should be enclosed by a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars, and the house should not be part of this barrier. Pool covers should be completely removed prior to pool use.

Accidents can occur around unsafe pool environments, such as pools with uncovered drains. It is important to have many layers of protection in and around the pool. All pool drains should be covered with anti-entrapment devices. Last year, Congress approved with my strong support and the President signed into law a pool safety measure that requires all pool and spa drain covers manufactured or distributed in the U.S. to meet entrapment protection standards. The measure also provides grants to states to undertake pool safety initiatives and requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to educate the public on the prevention of drowning.

I encourage Southwest Virginians to take advantage of the many community pools across the region and to use common sense pool safety to prevent pool accidents. For further information on water safety or swimming instruction, please contact your local chapter of the Red Cross. Below are the phone numbers for chapter offices in Southwest Virginia:
·        Mountain Empire Chapter (Bristol): 276-645-6650
·        Martinsville Chapter: 276-632-5127 or 276-694-3505 for the Stuart office
·        Montgomery-Floyd Chapter (Blacksburg): 540-443-3606
·        Radford Chapter: 540-639-2140
·        Roanoke Valley Chapter: 540-985-3535

Rick Boucher is Congressman for the 9th District of Virginia, which includes the New River Valley. You can catch his Capitol Commentary regularly at newrivervoice.com.