Pool Directors Warn to Stay Safe

(Memphis)—City Pools are open for business. But with the fun of hitting the water,  comes the danger of drowning.

6-year-old Chaning shows us her moves. She’s pretty comfortable in the pool.  Her parents enrolled her in swim lessons a few years ago.

“ So we can have fun at the lake and the pool and not be too worried about there being a danger of drowning .” said Chaning’s dad, Craig Peterson. He is also keeping a watchful eye on Chaning and her two older brothers.

“ There are the life guards, but I want to keep an eye on them just to make sure. They can only look so many places at one time.” Said Peterson.  

Earlier this year, a teenage boy drowned at his Memphis apartment complex pool. In Jackson, a girl was rushed to the hospital when she jumped the fence at her complex’s pool and went swimming, even though it was closed and a lifeguard wasn’t on duty.

“It’s probably the worst way to lose someone, especially knowing they were right there and they could have been saved.” Said Peterson.  

At the YMCA in Cordova, Director Mike Cunningham says, it’s important for people to remember lifeguards man pools for a reason.  

“ Listen to the life guards they know how to keep you safe while around the water.” Said Cunningham.

It’s that safety he says they keep in mind at his branch. The Y overstaffs lifeguards as a precaution.

His other big tip, learn to swim no matter what age you are.

“ It’s all about being safe. We want to make sure everyone is comfortable and confident  when they get into the water.” Said Cunningham.

So an afternoon trip to the pool, stays fun.