I am a huge fan of The Dells and go every summer with my family. I love the entire scene: from the waterparks to the mom-and-pop shops to the Duck Boats. However, in the winter months, KeyLime Cove, located in Gurnee, Illinois, has become a getaway favorite of ours for a variety of reasons.

We’ve always appreciated how close it is to Milwaukee – an easy 45-minute drive south and right off the freeway. I also like how contained it is: waterpark, lodging, food and drink all under one roof. It makes for a relaxing visit, rather than a whirlwind experience.

This last trip, however, I realized there is something else that I really like about KeyLime Cove: its commitment to health and safety.

KeyLime Cove uses a small amount of chlorine to disinfect their waterpark water – which is a state law – and relies mostly on ozone to do the job. Ozone is 200 times stronger than chlorine but has no effect on skin or hair. Which, in short, means no burning baby eyes.

"Ozone injected into water it is basically oxygen and it kills any type of waterborne illness," says Dale McFarland, the general manager of KeyLime Cove.

I also noticed during this recent trip an unwavering attentiveness among the lifeguards. It was a busy Friday night, but the staff was abundant and really focused. McFarland later told me all of the KeyLime Cove lifeguards are certified by Starguard, which is a staunch program with unannounced auditors who show up at the facility regularly to assure the guards are practicing the high standards.

"We have always exceeded excellence in our audits," says McFarland. "Our management staff in aquatics ensures the utmost quality."

A few years ago, KeyLime Cove installed a new, non-slip floor and earlier this year, parts of the floor were again replaced with rubber. I did not witness one "banana peel moment" during my visit.

"The areas of new flooring has made a huge difference," says McFarland. "It’s almost completely eliminated slips and falls. We went down from a dozen a day to almost none. Moms and dads can be sure KeyLime Cove is safe to swim in."

As a mom who jokes that her motto is "safety second" – primarily because I want to raise adventuresome and fearless children – I am still very impressed with KeyLime’s safety level. When it comes to kids and water, it’s always, always safety first.