By:Robert Remler
Finally, the season has arrived for getting that big toe in the water. Luckily, for Long Islanders, local geography offers a choice between swimming in the ocean or at a pool. Regardless of where that toe is dipped, water safety should be as much a part of the routine as reaching for a zapper to switch television channels.
Matt Crimmins of Malverne has been the director of health and safety services with the American Red Cross in Nassau County for three years. Crimmins, a member of the Malverne Volunteer Ambulance Corps for 18 years, has seen too many accidents that happen along the poolside.
"The most common types of accidents that happen along poolside are trips and falls, which can cause abrasions and cuts," he said. The best way to prevent such accidents is by listening to a familiar phrase: "Walk, don't run," he said. "Some of the most common reasons for accidents in a pool are a lack of supervision," Crimmins said. If planning a pool party, make sure all the guests know how to swim. "If you're having a pool party with many children, make
