Countywide : Red Cross Offers Water Safety Tips

With the summer recreation season approaching, the American Red Cross of Orange County has issued a water safety tip sheet for parents of young children.

The countywide effort was prompted by a report by the National Safety Council that points to drowning as the second-leading cause of accidental death among children in 1994.

“People need to know the dangers and know how to take action in an emergency,” said Tom Broadston, chairman of health and safety for the local Red Cross.

Water safety tips to protect children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years:

* Maintain constant supervision when children are in or around water.

* Do not leave toys in the water.

* Do not rely on flotation devices such as rafts or inner tubes to keep children safe.

* Enroll in a water safety course with your child.

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The Red Cross also offered these general water safety tips:

* Never drink alcohol before swimming.

* Enter the water feet first rather than head first if you do not know the depth.

* Do not swim or boat during electrical storms.

* Stay out of the water when you are overheated or have just eaten a large meal.

* Know the limits of your swimming ability and stay within them.

* Take a cardiopulmonary resuscitation and first-aid class.

* Only use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when boating or fishing.

Additional information is available from the Red Cross at (714) 835-5381.