May is National Water Safety Month: Play it Safe with These Tips

Did You Know May is Water Safety Month?
It makes it the perfect time to us to remind our guests just how important it is to keep a close watch on children around water. Drowning is preventable—and awareness is key.

Our Aquatics Directors at our resort, Wilderness at the Smokies in Sevierville, TN and Soaky Mountain Waterpark, also in Sevierville, have come up these essential water safety tips that we think are important to share you, our valued guests:

• Swimming is a life skill. Enroll your children in lessons with certified instructors. Don’t know how to swim? Join them—it’s a great way to bond while learning something that could save lives.
• Supervision is non-negotiable. Never leave your child(ren) unattended in or near water—even in the zero-depth areas of our waterparks.
• Lifeguards are a last line of defense, not the first. Always stay close to your little ones and make sure if they are weak or non-swimmers they wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets or flotation devices at all times.
• Bring a life vest—or borrow one. If your children are unsure swimmers, be sure they wear a Coast Guard-approved safety vest. Forgot yours? We have a limited number available in various sizes at all of our lifeguard stations.
• Follow posted rules at all water attractions. Whether it’s a pool, lazy river, or waterslide, those signs are there for a reason—you and your children’s safety.
• Set clear rules. Children should always swim with an adult. No exceptions.
• No diving without training. Only dive in water that’s deeper than 9 feet, with proper technique and adult supervision.
• Know your surroundings. Always be aware of where rescue equipment and a cell phone are located in the event of an emergency.
• Avoid drains and tie back long hair. Teach your children to stay away from pool drains and always pin up long hair to avoid entanglement.
• Be extra cautious in natural bodies of water. Oceans, lakes, and rivers come with their own risks like undercurrents, waves, and undertows. Always wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device when in or near open water or doing water sports.
• When outside be prepared. Being in the sun requires you to put on sunscreen and stay hydrated. If you don’t you could be putting yourself and your children at risk of sun stroke or heat exhaustion.

Let’s all do our part to keep water fun—and safe—for everyone this summer! 💦🌞