It's Not Too Cold for a Dip in the Pool, but Be Safe

Despite Chicagoland’s damp chill, many families are putting on swimsuits and swim shorts and heading to indoor water parks to bring a little bit of summer into their winter.

Families are packing up the car for daytrips and weekend getaways in spots ranging from the Water Works in Schaumburg to Grizzly Jack's Resort Grand Bear Falls Waterpark, in Utica, Ill., two hours outside Chicago.

Among the goggles and snacks, parents of young children should also carry extra precaution. While serious injuries at indoor water parks are not common, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4, according to U.S. Product Safety Commission.

Have a great time but don’t let a moment of carelessness end the fun early. We believe it’s important to keep kids safe around water all year long.

Our top safety tips:

• Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
• Never leave a child unattended near water.
• Children should wear a Coast-Guard approved life jacket around and in the water
• Know how to use rescue equipment around the pool area
• Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency. That means learn to perform CPR on children and adults and update those skills regularly.
• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards
• Always swim with a buddy
• Actively supervise children when around water