Water safety on July 4th weekend: What Westchester lifeguards recommend
It’s hot out there. Time to get in the water.
But before you do, Westchester County lifeguard Alyssa Cacciola would like a few minutes.
First, if you’re going to the beach, check to see if there are lifeguards around. Dangerous current, rip tides, waves. Something could happen.
“If there’s not a lifeguard just don’t go into the water,” said Cacciola, who supervises lifeguards at Yonkers' Sprain Ridge Pool and other Westchester County pools.
Which brings us to pools. Sprain Ridge’s lifeguards do their best to keep track of every youngster at the pool but an extra set of eyes can’t hurt.
“Make sure you have an eye on them,” Cacciola says. “Some kids like to run away. As long as you have an eye on them, we all should be good.”
Some 4,500 people died from drowning between 2020 and 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Westchester County officials highlighted the dangers as the July Fourth weekend approached.
“Lifeguards are there to watch the water, but drowning can happen in seconds, so adults must always be on the lookout for the safety of their children,” County Health Commissioner Sherlita Amler said. “Always stay within arm’s reach of infants or toddlers in or near the water. Floats, inner tubes, water wings and pool noodles are no substitute for adult supervision.”
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Swim lessons available
If wearing a life jacket, it should be approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. If not, county pools will provide one.
The Sprain Ridge pool bans the use of flotation devices — pool noodles, wings and the like — because on windy days or in rough conditions they could tip over.
All county pools offer swim lessons for ages 3 through adult.
“Please try to take advantage of it as best you can,” Cacciola says. “We just hope that everyone has a safe and fun summer.”
Water safety tips
Here are some other water safety tips to follow this summer, courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Learn basic swimming and water safety skills and teach kids how to swim.
- Build fences that fully enclose and separate your pool from your house. Fences should be at least four feet high with self-closing and self-latching gates.
- People of all ages and swimming abilities should wear life jackets while boating.
- Don't drink alcohol before or during swimming, boating or other water activities.
- Learn CPR skills for both children and adults.
- Never leave a child unattended in or around water.
- Teach kids to stay away from drains and ensure all pools and spas have federally compliant drain covers.
Reporter Emily Barnes of the New York State Team contributed to this report.