Those who intend to go swimming over the Summer are urged by the Rome-Floyd Fire Department to put safety first.
Linda Patty, Life and Fire Safety Educator, states that it is wise for children to have formal swimming lessons. Little ones should at least need know how to roll onto their backs in the unfortunate event that they fall into a pool.
It is unwise for anyone to swim alone, says Patty, who adds that supervision is especially necessary for those who do not swim all that well.
And before heading to the pool, be sure that you and your family are wearing swimwear that is visible underwater. Brighter colors are better, attests Shasta Farrer, Life and Fire Safety Educator.
Farrer also encourages parents to take pictures of their kids prior to heading to a public swimming area. That will make kids easier to spot if they should happen to get lost.
Personal flotation devices (or PFDs), such as life jackets, should be worn by anyone spending time on rivers, lakes, or oceans, states Farrer, who adds that small children should wear arm floaties when swimming in a pool.
The Rome-Floyd Fire Department’s Life and Fire Safety Educators recently produced a video about River Safety. It may be viewed on the Department’s Facebook page.