As families vacation at pools, lakes and oceans this summer, parents and children can take measures to ensure water safety.

"Taking safety precautions ahead of time is the first step in water safety," said Scott Snyder, executive director of the Butler Chapter of the American Red Cross.

Precautions families can take include wearing proper safety equipment, learning to swim and swimming in regulated areas.

Snyder said swimming in unregulated lakes and oceans can be dangerous, and people need to be aware of where they are swimming.

"One big problem is that people don't think it can happen to them," Snyder said.

He said it is much safer to swim in areas patrolled by Red Cross-certified lifeguards.

The Red Cross lifeguard training program is used by many pools. As water recreation has changed, so has the Red Cross certified program.

"One of the greatest things we've done is being able to adapt our programs," Snyder said.

The program now consists of four courses: lifeguarding for traditional pools, waterfront lifeguarding for non-surf open water, water park lifeguarding and shallow water attendant.

Dave Hutner, aquatic and program director at the Butler County Parks and Recreation Department, uses the Red Cross program when training lifeguards at the pool at Alameda Park.

Hutner said it is important patrons recognize the role of the lifeguard when they take children.

"The lifeguards are there to prevent accidents," Hutner said, "not to be baby-sitters."

Hutner also said the presence of lifeguards might give some parents a false sense of security.

With so many children in the pool at a time, it is impossible for every child to be personally monitored by the lifeguards.

"The best thing a parent can do is pretend that the lifeguards aren't there," he said.

In addition to lifeguarding, the Red Cross has swim instruction programs.

Snyder said swim classes have benefits parental swim instruction does not have.

"It takes the emotion and fear out of teaching a child to swim that a parent would have," he said.

If parents choose to teach their children, Hutner recommended parents use U.S. Coast Guard-certified flotation devices.

"The arm floaties give an extreme false sense of security," Hutner said.

Arm floaties and similar items are not certified by the Coast Guard and are prohibited at Alameda Pool. However, Coast Guard-certified equipment is available to rent at the pool.

The most important issue for Hutner and Snyder is people need to stay safe in the water.

"The rules are not there to restrict fun," Hutner said. "They are there to make sure all you are going to do is have fun safely."

For information on swim classes and lifeguard certification, contact the county parks department at 724-284-5383.

Red Cross information can be found at www.redcross.org.