With the summer heating cranking up, many Kansas City families are looking for ways to keep their cool. One beat the heat solution many families elect is to take a dip at a community or friend’s swimming pool. Swimming pools are not only a great way to find some relief from the summer heat, but they can also provide a day of entertainment for parents and kids. However, if you decide to take your children to visit a “watering hole”—you must be smart. While swimming pools can be a fun way to escape the heat, they can be dangerous if the correct precautions are not taken. So before you let your child jump in, make sure you follow these pool safety tips:

• Children require adult supervision: Whether it is a public pool with lifeguards on staff, or you are at a friend’s private pool that does not have lifeguards—one thing remains the same. Children in a swimming pool require constant adult supervision. While lifeguards are a great safety measure, as a parent you need to be responsible for your children. Public pools can be extremely chaotic in the summer, which can prove to be a challenge for even an experienced lifeguard. If at friend’s pool, always make sure that there is at least one adult at all times who is designed to watch the children in the pool. This adult should have his or her eyes on the pool at all times, since drowning can happen very quickly and very quietly.

• Make sure safety equipment is within reach: If a child does become in trouble, it is important to have the proper safety equipment close at hand. Items like a pole with a life hook and floatation devices, can make a difference between life and death. Also have a cell phone near where your children are swimming in the event you need to call 911.

• Know your child’s capabilities in the water: Drowning is a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. Therefore, it is critical that an adult always be within arm’s reach of a young child who is not able to swim. Swimming lessons are a great way to reduce a young child’s risk of drowning. However, very young children cannot appreciate the inherent risk of the water or drowning.

• Select your child’s swim devices carefully: Not all flotation devices are created equally. Items such as “pool noodles”, “water wings” and rubber inner tubes are toys are not approved floatation devices. If your child cannot swim he or she needs a properly fitting life jacket.

• Learn CPR: A parent’s first priority is to take the necessary steps to prevent an accident. However, unfortunately as a parent, you never know when an accident involving your child could happen. Therefore, a parent must also know what to do or who to call in case of an accident. A smart thing any parent can and should do, is try to find the time to take a licensed CPR class. Being able to perform CPR until paramedics arrive can improve outcomes for a drowning victim.

If you or someone you love was injured in an accident, it is important that you seek the advice of a seasoned Kansas City Injury Attorney right away. Only a skilled Kansas City Injury Personal Injury Attorney can ensure that your rights are protected and that you receive the proper compensation for your injuries. The injury attorneys at the Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. have helped countless injury victims, in both Kansas and Missouri. Our aggressive and experienced team of injury attorneys will make sure that justice is served. Contact Hubbard & Kurtz, L.L.P. today at (816) 472-4673 to schedule a consultation with one of our Injury Attorneys.