Wil Mara - What Should I Do? At the Pool

Published in the United States of America by Cherry Lake Publishing Ann Arbor, Michigan www.cherrylakepublishing.com Content Adviser: Karen Sheehan, MD, MPH, Childrens Memorial Hospital, Chicago, Illinois Photo Credits: Cover and page 5, Denise Mondloch; page 7, Susan Leggett/Dreamstime.com; page 9, Byron W. Moore/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 11, Vahe Katrjyan/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 13, Helen & Vlad Filatov/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 15, Poznyakov/Shutterstock, Inc.; page 17, Michael Walz/Dreamstime.com; page 19, Starletdarlene/Dreamstime.com; page 21, Jane September/Shutterstock, Inc. Copyright 2012 by Cherry Lake Publishing All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means without written permission from the publisher. LIBRARY OF CONGRESS CATALOGING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA Mara, Wil. p. cm.(Community connections) Includes bibliographical references and index. cm.(Community connections) Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN-13: 978-1-61080-056-3 (lib. bdg.) ISBN-10: 1-61080-056-7 (lib. bdg.) 1. Swimming for childrenSafety measuresJuvenile literature. 2. I. Title. Title.

GV838.53.S24M37 2011 797.2'1083dc22 2011000131 Cherry Lake Publishing would like to acknowledge the work of The Partnership for 21st Century Skills. Please visit www.21stcenturyskills.org for more information. Printed in the United States of America Corporate Graphics Inc. July 2011 CLFA09

It is fun to swim in a pool. You an play with your family and friends. Swimming is also very good for your body.

But be careful! Pools can be dangerous. You should always follow the rules of pool safety. Swimming pools are a great place to have fun and get some exercise. ASK QUESTIONS! Do you know how to swim? If not, ask your parents to sign you up for lessons. Knowing how to swim will be useful for your whole life.

There are many ways to get hurt at a pool if you arent careful.

It is slippery on hard walkways and around the sides of the pool. It would be easy to fall if you ran. Also remember that you cannot breathe underwater. You could drown if you stay under too long. Being underwater is fun, but dont stay under too long! MAKE A GUESS! How long do you think it takes to drown in a swimming pool? Ten minutes? Twenty? The answer is less than five. Your body needs air all the time.

Only go in a pool when an adult is nearby. Only go in a pool when an adult is nearby.

This adult should be someone you know and trust. Make sure the adult is watching you. Say something to that adult if he or she is not watching. Public pools should always have lifeguards to watch you, too. Lifeguards are good swimmers who know how to keep people safe at pools. You wouldnt want to swim in a pool filled with dirty water.

Dont go into pools that have just been cleaned with chemicals , either. Do not swim in bad weather. Swimming during a thunderstorm can be dangerous. If you see lightning or hear thunder, get out of the pool right away! THINK! Why do you think it is so dangerous to swim during a storm? Lightning often hits water. The electricity will shock you if you are in a pool.

It is always a good idea to wear a life vest if you are not a strong swimmer yet. It is always a good idea to wear a life vest if you are not a strong swimmer yet.

It will keep you from sinking. Life vests have kept many people safe in the water. Life vests can help you stay safe in the water. You should not fool around while you are at the pool. Do not push people. Dont throw things at friends who are in the water.

Dont play on the ladders or the diving board. Regular toys arent made to be used in a pool. Only use floating pool toys. Remember not to ride your bicycle near a pool! Be careful when using pool ladders. They can be slippery. LOOK! Look out for other children who are fooling around at a pool.

Make sure you keep away from them. Ask an adult to stop them. These children can hurt you as easily as they can hurt themselves. Only dive from a diving board. Always make sure an adult is watching when you dive. Do not dive onto the pool toys or onto another person.

Do not dive into the shallow end of the pool. Never dive into shallow water. You could hit the bottom of the pool and hurt yourself. Stay away from the pools filter system. Do not put your hands near the filter screens that are underwater. Do not go near the drains, either.

You can get your hands or feet caught. Only adults who are trained to take care of pools should ever go near filters and drains. You probably dont feel like swimming when you are sick. Staying out of the pool is a good idea. That way you wont make anyone else sick. Never go to the bathroom in the pool.

Would you want to dive into a pool after someone did this? Of course not! Its a pool, not a bathroom! Youll have fun at the pool and stay safe if you follow the rules.

chemicals (KEM-i-kuhlz) substances used to keep pool water clean drown (DROUN) to die from breathing in water filter (FIL-tur) a device that cleans liquids as they pass through it lifeguards (LIFE-gahrdz) people who watch swimmers and help them if they are in danger life vest (LIFE VEST) a soft piece of gear that fits onto your body to keep you floating in water