As Statesboro continues to get warmer and pools begin to open, it is important to remember pool safety and sun protection. 

Whether you know how to swim or not, you can still benefit from some pool safety tips. 

• Never dive head first in the shallow end
• If you are not confident in your swimming abilities, stay where you can stand. 
• Know the basics of CPR in case of an emergency.

“People of all ages need to be cautious because most people think only kids are in danger at the pool, but you would be surprised it’s actually a lot of adults too,” said former lifeguard, Imani Coleman.

“An average of 11 drowning deaths per day”, according to the CDC.

If you are not interested in swimming and prefer laying out in the sun, proper UV protection can have ample benefits. 

• Lowers the risk of skin cancer
• Prevents sunburn
• Protects from premature aging

What is SPF?

SPF stands for sun protection factor, and protects against UV and UVB rays, which are what cause skin cancer. The number on the SPF in a sunscreen is correlated to the amount of time it would take for the rays to penetrate your skin. For example, if you used SPF 15, it would take 15 minutes longer for the rays to penetrate your skin.

“I just started using it (sunscreen) again recently because I don’t want skin cancer, but I’m still not good at applying it everyday.” said student, Makiya Mayes.

There is no sunscreen that protects the skin 100% from the rays but it does help with slowing down the potential skin risks, according to Goodrx. 

It should be noted that all ages and skin colors run the risk of skin damage from UV rays.