Lifeguards Need Your Help Too! Rosewood Swimming Beach and Hidden Creek AquaPark open for the season Memorial Day weekend. Now is the perfect time to review these important water safety tips before heading to the pool or beach to ensure you and your family enjoy a fun, healthy, and safe summer.
1. Water Safety Tips:
- Before every visit to the pool or beach, discuss water safety and rules with your children
- Ensure your children have strong swimming skills by enrolling them in swimming classes
- If you bring a child’s friend to the pool, assess their swimming ability yourself, don’t just rely on what their parents tell you
- Don’t give shoulder rides, you may not be able to tell if your child’s head is above water
- Don’t let your children play breath holding games
- Enter the water feet first; serious injuries can occur by diving into unknown water
- At the beach, be aware of rip currents. Don’t try to fight a strong current to get to shore, swim parallel to the current until it eases up, then swim to shore.
- At the beach, look for these warning flags:
- Green Flag – bacteria levels are not elevated, no advisories
- Yellow Flag – bacteria levels are elevated, a caution swimming advisory
- Red Flag – high levels of bacteria, no swimming is advised
- Always swim within view of a lifeguard, and go the guard if you need help
- Always swim with a buddy — there is safety in numbers
- Keep toys that sink to the bottom of the pool at home
- Watch your children at all times around any body of water
- Don’t get distracted by books or electronics, you are there to have fun, so unplug!
- Remember to stay within an arm’s reach of your child at all times, even if they’re wearing a life jacket
- Only use Coast Guard approved life jackets that are properly fitted–Hidden Creek AquaPark has Coast Guard approved life jackets for children (x-small-medium) that are free to use while at the pool
- Protect yourself and children from the sun by always wearing sunscreen and reapply often. Sunburns can happen even on an overcast day.
- Hydrate and refuel often. The sun can drain your energy — drink water and eat often throughout your day.
2. Share These Water Safety Tips With Your Kids:
- Have an adult with you whenever you go swimming
- Make sure a lifeguard is watching the pool and the adult you are with gives you permission before you go into the water
- Don’t rough house or play breath holding games; it’s dangerous
- If you see someone in trouble yell “HELP!” over and over again – don’t try to help someone in trouble yourself, or you could be pulled under
- If you are tired, remember to take a break
3. Review Rosewood Beach Safety Regulations with Your Family:
- Climbing on rocks is prohibited
- Flotation devices are prohibited in the water
- Glass containers are prohibited
- Swim only during public swimming hours and in designated areas
- Children under the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult
- Diving from the shoreline or rocks is prohibited
- Please dispose of all litter in the receptacles provided
- For Public Safety Dogs are not allowed at Rosewood Beach – Rosewood Beach is for the public’s use and the presence of dogs and other pets creates a safety and sanitation concern. Therefore, for the safety and well-being of our beach visitors, dogs and other pets are not allowed at lower Rosewood beach including the boardwalk, bridges, and beach (per Park District Ordinance No. 15-04, section 2.03-e).
