When it comes to backyard pools, Samantha Van Houten YMCA aquatics director in Washington shares some advice for safety. She says parents should set basic ground rules for kids to follow, like always asking for permission to get in the water. She says there should be someone supervising kids when they’re in the water, “I think one of the biggest things that I would say to anybody that’s getting any kind of pool for their backyard is somebody needs to be a water watcher. They need to have active supervision. And you shouldn’t ever allow children to swim without supervision whether it’s a private pool, a public pool, a pool in your backyard, a lake, or a pond. And don’t get distracted because it only takes so many seconds before a kid could go under.”

She also recommends not playing games where people hold their breath underwater, as it’s hard to tell when they’re having trouble or playing. Van Houten encourages people to be trained in CPR, “Just because it’s really important, you know if CPR is needed and the ambulance or police officers aren’t getting here right away, the sooner the better if you have to perform CPR.”

Van Houten adds that swimming lessons can help develop skills, like how to float and tread water, which can help people be stronger and safer in the water.