Designate a 'Water Watcher' to ensure a safe and fun summer

DALLAS, June 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Texans are no strangers to cooling down in bodies of water to help beat the heat over the summer. However, no matter the body of water you choose to cool down in – pool, lake, river, even bathtub – water safety practices should be in place. According to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services, 38 children and teens have drowned in Texas so far this year.

Allstate encourages you to designate a 'Water Watcher' – a responsible adult with his or her eyes focused on the pool and the people swimming -- at all times.

"Drowning can happen in an instant, which means the opportunity to rescue a potential victim is short," says Allstate agent Chris Lewis. "To avoid accidents, it's important to discuss rules and safety measures with pool guests before entering the water."

To help ensure a safe and enjoyable summer at the pool, follow these tips:

Designate a 'Water Watcher': Never leave a child alone or out of eye contact while he or she is in or near the pool. It's also a good idea to keep a phone poolside so you won't have to leave children unsupervised to make or answer a call.

Keep toys away from the pool when not is use: Toys can attract young children to the pool.

Have pools completely enclosed by a fence at least four feet high: Avoid fences with vertical bars spaced more than four inches apart and chain-link fences that are easy to climb. Keep patio furniture away from the fence so kids can't use it to boost themselves over the fence.

Enroll children in a learn-to-swim or water safety course: These courses encourage safe practices. The decision to provide your children with an early aquatic experience will benefit them for life. Contact your park district to find out about available courses.

The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL) is the nation's largest publicly held personal lines insurer, protecting approximately 16 million households from life's uncertainties through auto, home, life and other insurance offered through its Allstate, Esurance, Encompass and Answer Financial brand names. Other growth platforms include predictive analytics company Arity and consumer-product protection plan company SquareTrade. Allstate is widely known through the slogan "You're In Good Hands With Allstate^®." Allstate agencies are in virtually every local community in America. In 2016, The Allstate Foundation, Allstate, its employees and agency owners gave $42 million to support local communities.

SOURCE The Allstate Corporation

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