Pools, beaches, sunscreen

POOLS Stay close and be alert when watching children in and around the pool Always have supervision Make sure lifeguard is on duty Read pool rules Do not run on the deck Do not swim alone No pushing No diving into shallow end Enter pool in feet first No rough play Never swim after drinking alcoholic beverages, eating, or taking medications Be aware of water depths

BEACH SAFETY All children and inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets Check conditions before going in the water Warning flags Lifeguards present Ask about water conditions or any other potential hazards Swim at least 100 feet away from piers or jetties DO NOT dive headfirst! Avoid patches of plants Leave animals alone

RIP CURRENTS/ TIDES Rip tides occur in any large open water area with low spots, sandbars, or near piers. If you are caught in a rip tide, Stay calm and don’t fight the current Swim parallel to the shore until you are out, then swim towards the shore If you can’t make it to the shore, wave and call for help. If you see someone in trouble, get a lifeguard and call

Things to Consider Check local recreation centers for beginner or advanced swim classes 4 years old is an appropriate age to start learning how to swim Teach older kids basic water safety rules Keep away from pool drains Temperatures between 82°F - 86°F most suitable for children If shivering or experiencing muscle cramps, get out of he water immediately Don’t assume that a child or adult who knows how to swim aren’t at risk for drowning

SUN, SAND, AND SAFETY If possible, wear a shirt Apply sunscreen Reapply frequently, especially if getting wet Wear a hat 2-3 inch brim all around to protect ears, eyes, forehead, nose, and scalp A baseball cap only protects the front and top, not the neck or ears Wear UV sunglasses Labels “UV absorption up to 400nm” or “Meets ANSI UV requirements” = glasses block >99% if UV rays “Cosmetic” = blocks 70% of UV rays No label = don’t assume any UV ray protection Seek shade

CHOOSING A SUNSCREEN Sun protection factor (SPF) – the level of protection the sunscreen provides against UVB rays SPF 30 = 1 minute of UVB rays exposure for every 30 minutes spent in the sun SPF Scale SPF 15 filters out ≈ 93% of UVB rays SPF 30 filters out ≈ 97% SPF 50 ≈ 98% SPF 100 ≈ 99% No sunscreen protects you 100% Broad spectrum sunscreen – protects from both UVA and UVB rays Ultraviolet A (UVA) age skin Ultraviolet B (UVB) burn skin Both contribute to skin damage and skin cancer. Water resistant – labeled as protecting skin for 40 or 80 minutes of swimming or sweating Check expiration dates Usually good for 2-3 years Shake bottle to remix sunscreen