The answer can be summed up in three words: Watch your children.
Don’t rely on lifeguards. On a busy day at many pools there are easily 20 children for every lifeguard.
Don’t count on water wings also known as swimmies- those inflatable rings that go around a child’s arm. They are NOT lifesaving devices.
“A lot of people rely on that way too much especially waterwings,” said Kayla Austin, Aquatics Manager at Carilion Wellness Roanoke. “I’ve seen kids jump in the pool arms straight up and the wings just come right off.”
Water wings also give children a false sense of security. Lifeguards say if you’re going to put water wings on your children stay in the pool with them.
The bottom line is your children are your responsibility. Stay close by and watch them when they’re in the pool.
See WDBJ7
