As the above ground pool season begins ……..safety first!

■Make it difficult to get to your pool or hot tub: Fence it (whether it is in- or aboveground) and lock the gates.
■Make sure the fence has no handholds or furniture nearby to afford easy climbing.
■Remove ladders from aboveground pools. Use pool safety covers and alarms to provide added protection.Swimming lessons and floatation devices are not adequate substitutions for careful adult supervision. A child can drown in a bathtub or wading pool in the time it takes to answer the phone or door.
■Remind baby sitters and other caretakers not to leave your children unattended.If you have a pool, appoint an adult to watch the kids during a party. Social events can distract attention from children who may be venturing too close to the pool.
■Set a good example. Adults are by no means “drown-proof,” so use the buddy system when swimming.
■Do not swim if you have been drinking alcohol; your judgment and reflexes are impaired.
■Dive only from diving boards, not from the edge of the pool, and never dive into an aboveground pool. At the beach, heed lifeguard warnings about undertows and riptides, and listen when they blow their whistles.Be ready for the worst. Sometimes, despite our best efforts, accidents happen. Know now what to do in an emergency:
■Have rescue equipment, such as a pole and ring buoy, near your pool and easily accessible.
■Know where the shut-off switch for your hot tub is located.
■Have emergency numbers and instructions written down and located near the phone, and make sure everyone knows where they are.
■Finally, learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) – in cases that call for resuscitation, seconds count when it comes to preventing death or permanent injury.
Always remember”Supervision”!!!