American Red Cross offers Summer Water Safety Tips and Training

Newton, NJ, July 17, 2009 – Summer is well underway, lakes and pools are open and people across the county are looking for fun ways to cool down as summer temperatures heat up. As you head to the beach, to the pool, or to your backyard the American Red Cross encourages you and your family to keep safety in mind by keeping children safe in, on and around the water!

• Maintain constant supervision. Watch children around any water environment (pool, stream, lake, tub, toilet, bucket of water), no matter what skills your child has acquired and no matter how shallow the water.

• Don't rely on substitutes. The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.

• Select a supervised area. A trained lifeguard who can help in an emergency is the best safety factor. Even good swimmers can have an unexpected medical emergency in the water. Never swim alone.

• Select an area that is clean and well maintained. A clean bathhouse, clean restrooms, and a litter-free environment show the management's concern for your health and safety.

• Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions. Murky water, hidden underwater objects, unexpected drop-offs, and aquatic plant life are hazards. Water pollution can cause health problems for swimmers. Strong tides, big waves, and currents can turn an event that began as fun into a tragedy.

• Make sure the water is deep enough before entering headfirst. Too many swimmers are seriously injured every year by entering headfirst into water that is too shallow. A feet first entry is much safer than diving.

• Be sure rafts and docks are in good condition. A well-run open-water facility maintains its rafts and docks in good condition, with no loose boards or exposed nails. Never swim under a raft or dock. Always look before jumping off a dock or raft to be sure no one is in the way.

• Look for the label: Use Coast Guard-approved life jackets for yourself and your passengers when boating and fishing.

• Parents should take a CPR course. Knowing these skills can be important around the water and you will expand your capabilities in providing care for your child. You can contact your local Red Cross to enroll in a CPR for Infants and Child course.

• Learn to swim. The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim--this includes adults and children. The American Red Cross swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability are offered throughout the county. To enroll in swim course, contact your local Red Cross chapter.

Upcoming Red Cross classes include:

On Tuesday, July 21st, an Infant and Child CPR class will be offered from 6:00 -10:30 p.m. This course will also be offered on Saturday, August 22nd from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. Attendees will learn the skills needed to provide care for infants and children in the case of breathing emergencies, and perform CPR. The fee is $55.00

On Thursday, July 23rd, and Monday, August 17th, a First Aid course will be offered from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m. This course is intended to teach lay responders the knowledge and skills necessary to give care in an emergency, help sustain life and minimize the consequences of injury or sudden illness until medical help arrives. The fee is $45.00.

On Saturday, July 25th an Adult CPR/AED course will be offered from 8:30 am to 1:00 pm. This course is also being offered on Tuesday, August 11th from 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm. The course imparts the knowledge and skills necessary to provide care for breathing emergencies, perform CPR, and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to save victims of sudden cardiac arrest. The fee is $50.00.

On Saturday August 15th a Babysitter’s Training course is being offered from 9:00am to 3:30pm. The Babysitter’s Training course has a unique interactive, educational format that tasks youth, ages 11 – 15 years of age, with activities such as identifying safety problems around the house and yard and selecting age-appropriate toys and games for children in their care. The fee for this course is $65.00

Classes will be held at the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross located at 93 Spring Street in Newton. Contact the Health and Safety Department at (973) 579-1600, or you can register and pay online at www.sussexredcross.org . Visit this site for directions and information on these and other upcoming Red Cross courses. The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization that shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.