Water is a popular way to cool off in Texas, but our state leads the nation in child drownings, with peak incidents happening in May, June and July. Because of these facts, the Texas Legislature has designated April as Water Safety Month in an effort to raise awareness before the swim season begins.
Colin’s Hope, an organization with community volunteers and strategic partners, works to raise awareness about water safety in an effort to prevent child drownings.
Colin’s Hope has these and other tips for your next water-based fun day:
Watch all children around water. Drowning is fast and silent. Assign an adult to watch children and learn to recognize a swimmer in trouble.
- Learn to swim. Never swim alone.
- Wear a properly fitted life jacket.
- Install barriers around water sources (pools, spas, hot tubs, etc.) to restrict access when an adult is not present.
- Be safer in open water. Swim near a lifeguard. Obey warning rules and flags. Learn rip current safety.
- Learn CPR. Refresh skills yearly.
For more information, visit colinshope.org.
