Swimming is a fun activity for children, but it’s crucial to have adult supervision at all times, according to the Dallas County Health Department.

Community Health Educator Natalie Peters reminds parents/guardians that children should swim in areas where a lifeguard is on duty to provide an extra set of eyes in case of an emergency. She notes that even with a lifeguard available, parents/guardians should not (we try to avoid using contractions if possible.) be on their phones but need to be attentive the entire time. Peters stresses that house pools need their own safety measures.

“Make sure to secure it with appropriate barriers like a fence or something like that to prevent unsupervised access to the water, and then have children wear bright swimsuits that stand out from the color of waters.”

Peters adds that children should never be alone near open water, and to always confirm a person over the age of 18 is present to watch young children. She concludes that accidents happen quickly, so it’s important to remain vigilant at all times.