Red Cross Experts Answer Your Questions
American Red Cross water safety experts answer your questions. Read on for tips to ensure that your water experiences are positive for you and your loved ones. Remember the American Red Cross encourages you and your family to learn to swim — and swim well — and have at least one member trained in first aid and CPR.
- When should my child learn to swim?
- What water toys are safe?
- How long after eating can I go back in the water?
- What is the recommended age for children in a public pool to be required to have adult supervision when swimming?
- Do you recommend a minimum and maximum number of participants in your learn-to-swim classes?
- What should swimmers do when lightning or thunderstorms occur?
- Where can adults learn to swim?
- Why is first aid and CPR training important for water safety?
- How difficult is the training to become a water safety instructor?
- How do I make my home pool safe?
- How do I plan for a pool party?
- How do I hire lifeguards for a pool party?
- What is the recommended lifeguard to swimmer ratio in a swimming pool?
- What is a safe temperature for a home pool?
- Where can I get insurance to cover swimming lessons in a home pool?
When should my child learn to swim?
Like many decisions you make for your child, there is no textbook answer. You know your child best and you must decide when your child is mature enough to learn to swim. As general guidelines, the American Red Cross recommends starting your child in learn to swim classes somewhere between the ages of four to six.
However, while your child is developing his or her likes and dislikes, make sure that you expose your child to water in a safe, fun manner. Parent and child classes include registrants as young as six months. These classes are not designed to teach your child how to swim or even to survive in the water on their own. They do give you information and techniques to help lay the foundation for future swimming lessons. Just as importantly, they are an enjoyable time for you and your child to bond while in the safe constraints of a local facility.
Remember that while your child is still learning to swim that you must be within arm's reach of him or her at ALL times.
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What water toys are safe?
By Greg Stockton
While water toys such as water wings and inner tubes are fun accessories to bring to the beach or pool, the only truly safe water accessory is a personal flotation device (PFD) approved by the U.S. Coast Guard (check for the Coast Guard stamp).
Water wings and inflatable toys are great fun but they are just that, toys. These items may provide a false sense of security and should not be relied upon for safety. It’s vital that parents and caregivers know the difference between toys and proper safety gear.
Kids –and adults – who are not strong swimmers or who appear to rely on inflatable toys for safety should wear US Coast Guard-approved PFD whenever they are in or around the water. Each person should have the appropriate PFD for his or her weight, which is found clearly marked in the Coast Guard stamp.
If your child doesn't like to wear their PFD, take them on a shopping trip where they can pick out their own PFD. Including them in the decision will allow for a better fit and ensure that they're happy to wear a PFD at all times in or on the water.
No matter what a child is wearing and no matter what flotation items are at hand, he or she should never be left unattended in or around the water. Parents should always practice “reach supervision” which means that he or she is within arm’s length of the child at all times.
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How long after eating can I go back in the water?
By Mike Espino
Despite what mom always told you, there is no specific time you must wait before heading back into the water. Instead the rule of thumb is to use common sense about swimming and eating. Before beginning any strenuous activity after eating, including swimming, you should feel comfortable, not sluggish or tired.
Going back in before your body has properly digested your meal—and the emphasis here is on “your” since this is an individual variable—could make you susceptible to cramping or exhaustion, both of which interfere with your ability to swim and stay safe in the water.
Also make sure that you stay well hydrated while having fun in the summer sun. Dehydration is dangerous and can lead to cramps and/or fatigue. Drink lots of water and avoid alcoholic and/or caffeinated beverages.
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Where can adults learn to swim?
By Don Lauritzen
While some adults feel sheepish in admitting that they never learned to swim well, there is no reason to feel embarrassed. However, it's never too late to start. Sign up for adult-only swimming classes at your local facility or call the local Red Cross chapter and see if they can recommend an adult-only class.
Learning to swim is vital - drowning most often occurs when the victim is NOT planning on swimming or being in water. Knowing how to swim well is an important tool - especially if the adult in question will ever be supervising children at a pool, beach or waterfront.
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Why are first aid and CPR training important for water safety?
While your home pool or local waterfront may meet the top standards for water safety, you must also prepare for the unexpected by taking first aid and CPR training. According to the National Safety Council, over 4,000 people die each year from drowning. Knowing first aid and CPR helps keep your family's safety top of mind.
Plan a class with neighbors or friends to ensure that all supervising adults are trained. Contact your local Red Cross chapter to register for classes.
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How do I make my home pool safe?
By Greg Stockton
Make sure that your pool is surrounded on all sides by a fence that is at least 4 feet high. It should not provide any footholds, which would allow a child to climb over, or spacing to climb through. The fence should have a self-closing, self-locking gate that is locked when the pool is not in use.
A first aid kit, cordless phone, phone list with emergency contact information, a reaching pole and a ring buoy with a nylon line attached are all recommended poolside items.
First aid kits, like the Good Housekeeping-approved kit from the American Red Cross, should contain plastic face shields, which can help prevent disease transmission. Cordless phones allow you to make that 9-1-1 call and to receive calls without leaving the area.
These items, coupled with a pool emergency action plan that is similar to a fire emergency plan, ensure that the entire family is prepared.
Some rules to consider for your pool include:
- No one swims alone – even adults
- One adult should always have 100 percent of their attention directed on the pool when children are swimming or in the pool area. It’s helpful if adults take turns paying attention and if all adults are trained in first aid and CPR.
- Diving is outlawed in home pools – they are far too shallow.
- Glass containers are also outlawed at or around a home pool.
- There should be set pool breaks where all swimmers hop out, reapply sunscreen, drink water, and just take a break. This allows the adults surveying the pool to ensure that everyone is in good spirits and not suffering from heat exhaustion, sunburn or fatigue.
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How do I plan for a pool party?
By Mike Espino
While a pool party is a great way to socialize with friends and family under the summer sun, don't neglect a few key rules when planning the party:
- Make sure that parents or caretakers of all invited guests are aware that the party is a pool party.
- If possible, have a lifeguard on duty. Contact the local parks and recreation department or local swimming pools to get names of American Red Cross-trained lifeguards who are willing to guard at private parties. It is the host’s responsibility to interview and hire individuals and provide appropriate rescue equipment.
- If not hiring a lifeguard, identify or appoint responsible adults to supervise the pool when it is being used. These individuals must understand and accept responsibility for monitoring the pool and should be trained in CPR, first aid and water safety.
- Establish rules for safety such as:
- Prohibiting all dives into shallow water
- Walking – no running on the deck
- Not permitting glass in the pool area.
- If the swimming portion of the party goes for more than an hour, set rest breaks. This allows guests the opportunity to rest and warm up and provides a break for the lifeguard or water-watcher.
- Do not serve alcoholic beverages to guests who are or will be participating in water activities.
- Maintain cleanliness of water. Water should be chemically treated and tested regularly.
- Check with the homeowner’s insurance company to determine the limits of coverage. Additional coverage for the event may be required.
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How do I hire lifeguards for a pool party?
By Don Lauritzen
As mentioned above, contact the local parks and recreation department or local swimming pools to get names of American Red Cross-trained lifeguards who are willing to guard at private parties. Use the below questions as a checklist to ask before you hire a lifeguard to guard your pool.
- Do you have current American Red Cross Lifeguard Training certification (or equivalent)?
- Do you have current CPR certification? If so, through what training agency?
- Do you have current first aid certification? If so, through what training agency?
- Do you have a current list of references?
- Do you have a current job history list?
- What do you charge per hour?
- Are there any specific pieces of safety equipment we need to provide for you? (It is the host’s responsibility to interview and hire individuals and provide appropriate rescue equipment.)
- How do you enforce pool rules?
- Do you have a list of rules you require while lifeguarding?
- Are there any accommodations we need to make for you?
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What is the recommended ratio of lifeguards to swimmers in a swimming pool?The Red Cross does not make recommendations for lifeguard-to-patron ratios. It is recommended that you first check with your state and local health codes to determine if there are requirements in place.
Some state and local health codes specify that a certain number of lifeguards must be on duty for a given number of patrons. For example, a county health code may specify that for every XX patrons in the water, the facility must have one lifeguard on surveillance duty. Other codes may have guidelines based on ratios of pool surface area to number of lifeguards. In some cases, however, state and local health codes do not specify a number of lifeguards on duty per number of patrons. Management of the aquatic facility may set this ratio taking into consideration the many factors that influence patron surveillance, such as activities and structures within the facility and by using the above examples as a guide.
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What is a safe temperature for a home pool?
Recommended water temperatures for the type of activity ranges from 78°F for fitness swimming, 82°F for recreational swimming and 86°F for water therapy. However, there is no recommended water temperature for residential pools — what it boils down to is individual comfort and preference. Although, please note that high water temperatures can present water quality issues.
For more information on water quality, visit the following Web sites:
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What is the recommended age for children in a public pool to be required to have adult supervision when swimming?
There is no recommended standard. Each aquatic facility sets there own policy on when a child can swim without adult supervision. The Red Cross recommends that parents watch children around any water, no matter how well the child can swim and no matter how shallow the water.
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Do you recommend a minimum and maximum number of participants in your learn-to-swim classes?
Class sizes may range from one-to-one instruction to the Red Cross recommendation of at least one instructor for every six participants in a course. To increase safety and instructional quality, having fewer participants per instructor should be considered. It is especially important to consider a smaller ratio when there are classes of young children or classes of students who are showing fear or anxiety.
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How difficult is the training to become a water safety instructor?
The American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor course requires swimming ability and a time commitment of at least 30 hours to complete the course. The prerequisites for entry in the water safety instructor course are:
- Be at least 16 years of age by the last scheduled session of the instructor course;
- Possess a Fundamentals of Instructor Training (FIT) certificate issued within the past 12 months or have a current Health and Safety Services Instructor Authorization.
- Demonstrate swimming skills consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts, Level 4, by swimming the following strokes:
- Front crawl-25 yards
- Back crawl-25 yard
- Breaststroke-25 yards
- Elementary backstroke-25 yards
- Sidestroke-25 yards
- Butterfly-15 yards
- Maintain position on back 1 minute in deep water (float or sculling).
- Tread water for 1 minute.
To successfully complete the instructor course:
- Complete all reading assignments.
- Attend all class sessions.
- Participate in all activities.
- Successfully complete all practice-teaching assignments.
- Pass the final written exam with a minimum grade of 80 percent.
Instructor candidates must also demonstrate throughout the course that they are mature and responsible.
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Where can I get insurance to cover swimming lessons in a home pool?
Check with the agency that handles your homeowner's insurance if you plan to teach lessons from your home pool. If you plan to teach at another pool other than your own, you may want to check with your insurance agency to see if coverage is available or you can visit Venbrook Insurance Services Web site at www.myfitnessinsurance.com for swimming instructor liability insurance. Back to top
What should swimmers do when lightning or thunderstorms occur?
It is recommended that both indoor and outdoor pools evacuate. Swimmers should follow their facility's policy for exiting the water before an impending storm. Lifeguards and facility employees should direct the evacuation.
It is recommended that swimming pools be cleared at the first sound of thunder or first sight of lightning and 30 minutes should lapse after the lightning and thunder stop before swimmers get back into the water.
Check the following sites for more informatoin regarding lightning safety and indoor/outdoor pools:
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