With temps approaching the upper 80's and lower 90's this week, one thing is for sure, the city pools and area water parks will be packed!

I mean who doesn't like to take a cool dip on a warm summer day right?

With all those bodies packed in and around the pool, the question becomes, how do you keep your kiddos safe?

Sioux Falls water park Wild Water West is putting a special emphasis on safety first this summer.

That according to Emily McNamara, Wild Water West Marking Manager. McNamara says, "We're really expecting really big numbers to be here as far as for occupancy levels."

On a hot summer summer day, Wild Water West can expect to see nearly 4000-5000 people at a time. When crowds get that large, it can be easy for a child to slip out of their parents sight, even for just a moment, and as you know, sometimes a moment is all it takes for a tragedy to take place.

There are about 4,000 unintentional drownings each year in the U.S. and it only takes a few inches of water for a drowning to happen.

What can you do to help ensure your child's safety in and around the pool?

First and foremost, stay by their side. Keep a close eye on their activities. If sticking by your child's side isn't an option, Wild Water West has about 50 lifeguards on the lookout.

McNamara says, "We add more to different positions, just to make sure that the occupancy level is right where we need for our safety standards. Our lifeguards are able to anticipate a possible drowning that's going to happen, and they can get to that person, render the aid of help that they need, and get them to the side of the pool."

There are other built in safety protocols at Wild Water West too, such as certain height restrictions and requiring any kid that's under 48 inches or four feet to be in arm's length of a parent at all times around the wave pool, when the wave cycle is on.

Wild Water West also offers free life jackets to any child who is still getting comfortable in the water.

Key water safety tips include:

  • Enrolling your child in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
  • Teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
  • Use the buddy system. Swimming with a buddy whenever possible.

Just like our city pools, Wild Water West does a great job of making safety paramount. This is further illustrated by the fact that Wild Water West is in the top ten percent internationally for safety standards.

Here's to a safe summer in and around the water. So dive on in, the water is fine!

Source: KDLT TV

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