GREENSBORO, N.C. — Memorial Day weekend is right around the corner, and of course, that’s been the go-to opening date for most outdoor pools.
But before you get too hasty and jump into the pool, there are a few things you should get a refresher on.
“The parents need to make sure that they're responsible for watching their own children. Yes, there are lifeguards there, but they can't count on the lifeguards watching just their child," Heather West said.
Heather West is a certified swim instructor for the Red Cross and has been working in water since she was little.
“Back when I lifeguarded in the 70s. Parents would drop their kids off of the pool, and the kids would be there for about six, seven hours, and the lifeguards were babysitters from age, you know, 9 all the way up to 16," West said.
Lifeguards are an important fixture in pool safety, but parents and guardians should always be vigilant.
"If their kids don't know how to swim, you know, sign them up for swim lessons. But if they're taking them to the pool and they're not good swimmers, the parents are encouraged to take some lessons," said West.
The CDC said that drowning is the number 1 cause of mortality for children ages 1-4. In addition, 55% of U.S. adults have never taken a swimming lesson.
"One of the leading causes of death for children is drowning, and if they learn to swim at an early age, it helps prevent them from drowning. And the same thing with parents if they, you know, are weak swimmers that could take swim lessons at the local Y's, and I know that many outdoor facilities offer swim lessons."
So, before you take the plunge this Memorial Day weekend, just be sure you’re always paying attention, whether it's your first or one-thousandth time at the pool.