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When the weather turns warm, everyone wants to be on or near the water. Hanging out at the pool or the beach is a great way to enjoy the summer. Most of the time we don’t think much about water safety — but we should. For people between the ages of five and 24, drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death.
It doesn’t have to be that way because most water-related accidents can be avoided by knowing how to stay safe and by following a few simple guidelines.
Get skilled: Learning to swim is the best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water. Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for people of any age and swimming ability.
Know your limits: Watch out for the dangerous “too’s” – too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
Set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities (for example, inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep).
Swim in safe areas only: Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard.
Be knowledgeable of the water environment and its potential hazards, such as deep and shallow areas, currents, depth changes, obstructions and where the entry and exit points are located.
Know local weather conditions: Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
Protect your body from the elements: Protect your skin by limiting the amount of direct sunlight you receive and wear a sunscreen with a sun protection factor of at least 15.
Drink plenty of water regularly and often, even if you do not feel thirsty. Your body needs water to keep cool. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.
Wear eye and foot protection.
Alcohol and water never mix: Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving or boating. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination. Over 50 percent of drownings result from boating incidents involving alcohol.
Personal flotation devices: Children or inexperienced swimmers should take precautions, such as wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal floatation device (PFD) when around the water.
While boating, wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket is important.
Boating Safety: Develop a float plan. Anytime you go out in a boat, give a responsible person details about where you will be and how long you will be gone. This is important because if the boat is delayed because of an emergency, becomes lost, or encounters other problems, you want help to be able to reach you.
Find a boating course in your area (U.S. Power Squadron, the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, US Sailing, etc) — these courses teach about navigation rules, emergency procedures and the effects of wind, water conditions, and weather.
Keeping Children Safe In, On, and Around the Water: Maintain constant supervision. Watch children around any water environment no matter what skills your child has acquired and no matter how shallow the water. For younger children, practice “Reach Supervision” by staying within an arm’s length reach.
Don’t rely on substitutes. The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.
Personal Watercraft (Jet Skis): Know your local laws and regulations.
Operate your PWC with courtesy and common sense. Obey no-wake and speed zones.
Use extreme caution around swimmers and other boaters. Run your PWC at a slow speed until the craft is away from shore, swimming areas, and docks. Avoid passing close to other boats and jumping wakes. This behavior is dangerous and illegal.
Swimming and boating are great activities to participate in with friends and families. Taking the time to have fun and enjoy water activities while being safe keeps you coming back time and time again.
For more information about water safety, check out the following websites.
http://www2.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html
http://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/safebasics/water_safety.html#
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