Cub Water Safety

Learn these water safety rules well, and always follow them:

• Never swim alone. Use the "buddy system" and swim with at least one friend.
• Always tell your parents or an adult if you are going to swim.
• Never swim in unknown waters (in dams, rivers or pools you do not know)
• Never dive into water if it is not clear or if you do not know how deep it is. You could hit something and hurt yourself.
• Do not push people into the water, dive or jump without looking first, run around the edge, or duck your friends under the water.

If you cannot swim and there is a swimming pool or dam near your home, or if you live near the sea, try to learn to swim as soon as possible. Keep practising so you can become a strong swimmer. Once you can swim, remember the water safety rules:

• Leave the water before you get tired.
• Wait an hour after eating before going into the water.
• At the beach, swim only at the proper bathing area or near other people.
• Always obey the signs and the life guards
• Inflated water wings, rings, lilos and tyre tubes can keep you afloat, but be careful as you can easily be carried out into deep water or down river.

At home:

• Never leave buckets or paddling pools full of water as they are a hazard to children
• If the pool has a gate, keep it shut, to keep smaller children safe
• Never leave a young child alone in the bath

At a lake or river:

• Check for boats and currents
• Beware of slippery banks and sudden drop-offs

In a boat:

• Always wear a life jacket
• Stay seated
• Tell someone where you are going and when you'll be back
• Never steer towards swimming areas

If you are in trouble in the water:

• Stay calm
• Float on your back
• Use one arm to signal for help