BATON ROUGE, La. – Labor Day weekend often marks the unofficial end of summer, but with hot temperatures continuing across Louisiana, families still have plenty of opportunities to enjoy pools, lakes, bayous and other waterways. The Louisiana Department of Children and Family Services is reminding parents and caregivers to make water safety a priority.
“It is important that everyone in your family knows how to swim – children and adults. Swimming lessons are available all across the state. My nephew, Nathan Landry, was the victim of a drowning, so I know all too well the dangers of the water. I don’t want another family to experience that kind of loss. So please, Louisiana, get a swim plan – whether that means getting your children into lessons now or making a plan for next summer,” said DCFS Secretary Rebecca Harris.
DCFS encourages families to:
- Always supervise children around water. Put your phone away, stay alert and keep your eyes on children at all times.
- Remember water safety goes beyond the pool. Drowning can happen in lakes, bayous, ponds and even bathtubs.
- Make sure children wear life jackets when they are on a boat or around open water. Use a properly fitted, Coast Guard-approved flotation device.
- Consider swimming lessons and CPR training to help prepare your family for emergencies.
- Add barriers around home pools, such as a fence, to help prevent children from accessing the water unsupervised.
“Water safety doesn’t end at the pool,” said DCFS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rebecca Hook. “Water safety is any time your children or your family is in or on the water. Supervising our children without distractions, using a Coast Guard-approved flotation device and having a safety plan are important ways we can help keep our children safe.”
For more water-safety information and resources, visit getaswimplan.ldh.la.gov.
