Five Minutes or Less for Health Weekly Tip: Swim Safely

Swimming is a fun, active, and healthy way to spend leisure time. Take a few minutes to keep health and safety in mind to help prevent illness and injury.

• Ask a buddy to join you when swimming so you don’t swim alone.
• Choose swimming sites that have lifeguards.
• Avoid drinking alcohol before and during swimming.
• Don’t swallow pool water.
• Don't swim when you have diarrhea. Germs can spread in the water and make other people sick.
• Take a shower and wash your child before swimming.
• Take your kids on bathroom breaks every 60 minutes, or check diapers every 30-60 minutes.
• Change diapers in a bathroom or a diaper-changing area and not at poolside. Germs can spread in and around the pool.
• Wash your hands after using the toilet or changing diapers before getting in the pool.
• Watch children in and around water at all times.
• Make sure to keep your ears as dry as possible to help prevent swimmer’s ear.

Learn More

• Healthy Swimming Year-Round
• Recreational Water Illness and Injury Prevention
• Unintentional Drowning: Get the Facts