BURRILLVILLE – Watch Me Kids Club swimming safety is very important this time of the year.
With school out for summer vacation and recent temperatures in the 90s, setting the stage for a six day heat wave, plenty of people are heading to the beaches, lakes, ponds, community pools and backyard pools trying to cool off near and in the water. There have been multiple water rescues here in the Ocean State over the past week due to the extreme heat and humidity causing more swimmers to enter the open waters.
It is especially important that adults are always watching children while they are playing near or swimming in a pool. Kids should never swim alone. It’s too dangerous. It is also good to know that floating pool toys and devices are not lifesaving equipment. Just because these items float on water does not mean a child is safe while swimming with them in a pool.
Adults should also make sure kids are not alone in hot tubs and jacuzzi areas. These water containers hold a drowning risk for little kids too.
I was asked to create a series of summer swimming and backyard safety coloring cartoons for Hasbro Children’s Hospital to be passed out to kids and adults at safety events and community fairs across the state of Rhode Island, and nearby Connecticut and Massachusetts, during the busy summer months in an effort to try and keep kids safer. Please make copies of this Sunday Feature and share with family and friends. Be a part of the Watch Me Kids Club this summer, and keep kids safer around water.