Chesterfield Health District offers tips to swim safe this summer

CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- Healthy and Safe Swimming Week kicked off on Monday, prompting Chesterfield Health District to provide some tips on how to beat the summer heat while avoiding common hazards.

The week of May 19 to 25 marks Healthy and Safe Swimming Week, a way to raise awareness and prevent several different water-related illnesses and injuries that can occur at the pool, beach or any open body of water.

Chesterfield Health District said community pools have gotten visits from environmental health inspectors to ensure the required daily water quality information is posted in accordance with the Virginia Administrative Code.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the leading causes of death in children is drowning. There have been around 500 accidental drownings in Virginia alone from 2020 to 2024, the health district said.

While the risk of drowning can be reduced by knowing how to swim, even at a basic level, health officials said bystander-initiated CPR can be helpful if someone is not breathing.

Chesterfield Health District offered the following tips for avoiding swimming-related illnesses:

• Don't swallow the water when swimming -- a mouthful of water with germs can make a person sick for 2 to 3 weeks
• Wash with soap and water before and after swimming -- wash hands for 20 seconds before eating or preparing food
• Cover any open wounds or cuts -- don't swim if your skin has cuts or open wounds
• Don't swim or play in water if you or your child has been sick with diarrhea in the past two weeks
• Use swim diapers on infants and toddlers -- check swim diapers regularly, and take kids on hourly bathroom breaks
• Thoroughly dry ears after swimming to avoid swimmer's ear
• Avoid going in water if it has a green film or if it's cloudier than usual -- some harmful algae blooms can be dangerous

In terms of other swimming-related hazards, health officials provided these tips:

• Parents should actively supervise children when they are playing or swimming in water
• Swimmers should be aware of hazards like rip currents and rough water
• Observe any advisories and listen to lifeguards
• Use U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets -- floaties, arm bands or water wings are not safety devices.

Click here for more safety tips relating to pools, as well as open water and beach safety.