Have a Safe Summer

May 4, 2024. Miami, Florida.
This photograph illustrates a Water Safety Instructor® teaching swimming and water safety skills that are part of an American Red Cross Learn-to-Swim class delivered by a Red Cross training provider.

Fiorenza Bagala is a Water Safety Instructor® and lifeguard and enjoys sharing her love of swimming with children at the Palm Springs North Pool in Miami, Florida. She emphasized the importance of this training: People really don't understand how dangerous water can be. But at the same time, it is a great gift. So, people really need to understand how to balance that.
Photo illustration by The American National Red Cross

Please note: these are staged photos and shouldn t be conveyed as a real event.

Water Safety Instructor® Fiorenza Bagala enjoys sharing her love of swimming with children at the Palm Springs North Pool in Miami, Florida. Each year, the American Red Cross and its training providers teach more than 2.5 million people to swim through lifesaving aquatics programs, helping to keep individuals and families safer in, on and around the water. Photo illusration by The American National Red Cross

May 15, 2025

Support water safety in June ─ Join the 15 Mile Swim Challenge

Summertime ─ the season to enjoy the great outdoors and warm weather. The American Red Cross hopes everyone stays safe while enjoying their summer and offers critical tips to follow for some of the most popular summer activities.

SWIMMING: Drowning can happen quickly and silently. Unless rescued, it could take as little as 20 to 60 seconds for a drowning person to submerge.

Be “water smart” — build confidence in the water by learning to be safer, making good choices, learning to swim and knowing how to handle emergencies. It’s critical to prevent unsupervised access to water, provide constant and active adult supervision, and know how to swim. In addition, the Red Cross urges families to:

Never swim alone — this is true for both adults and teens as well as children. Never leave a young child unattended near water, and do not trust a child’s life to another child. Swim in an area with lifeguards.
Designate a “water watcher” whose sole responsibility is to keep a close eye and constant attention on everyone in and around the water until the next water watcher takes over.
Don’t just pack it, wear your life jacket — always on a boat and if you are in a situation beyond your skill level.
Reach or throw, don't go! In the event of an emergency, reach or throw an object to the person in trouble and tell them to grab on to it. Don’t go in! You could become a victim yourself.

CALLING ALL SWIMMERS! Make a splash for a great cause. Dive into action this June with the 15 Mile Swim Challenge hosted by the Red Cross. By joining, you will provide swim lessons to help reduce drownings and build competence in the water. Start a fundraiser on Facebook or Instagram and earn your exclusive Red Cross towel when you receive your first donation. Register today!

GRILLING, FOOD SAFETY: Grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year.

Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Never grill indoors or in any enclosed area. Make sure everyone, including pets, stays away from the grill, and keep it out in the open, away from the house, deck, tree branches or anything that could catch fire. In addition, the Red Cross encourages people to:

Use the long-handled tools especially made for cooking on the grill to help keep the chef safe.
Wash your hands, utensils and workstation before preparing the food.
Don’t leave food out in the hot sun. Keep perishable foods in a cooler with plenty of ice or freezer gel packs.
Separate uncooked meats, poultry and seafood from ready-to-eat foods like salads, fruits, vegetables, cheeses and desserts. Use separate plates and utensils to prevent cross-contamination.

CAMPING: Being prepared for emergencies is critical when you’re headed to an area with limited access to phone services and help.

Camping continues to grow in popularity in the United States with more than 81 million people camping in 2024. If you are heading out to camp or hike, wear layers of light-weight clothing, sunscreen and a hat. Plus, don’t forget to:

Pack a first aid kit with insect repellant, sunscreen and personal medications. A variety of first aid kits and emergency supplies are available at redcrossstore.org
Know the level of ability of your group and the environment around you. Plan to use hiking trails that are within your skill level.
Share your plans, including where you are going and when you should be back, with a family member, neighbor or friend.
Bring nutritious food items and plenty of water even if you don’t plan to stay overnight.

DOWNLOAD RED CROSS APPS Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

Find more summer safety information here.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.