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Water Safety
As the summer sun pushes the thermometer readings upward, children and their families seek relief from the summer heat at pools, lakes, rivers, and oceans. Unfortunately, the water sports that are so much a part of our summer fun can result in accidents if precautions are not taken.
The prescription for a safe summer is to closely follow water safety rules and add a large dose of adult supervision. As long as drowning is the third leading cause of death in this country, the message of water safety cannot be repeated enough.
Here are a few reminders that may save a child’s life.
- No one should ever swim alone.
- Night swimming (except in a lighted pool) can be very dangerous.
- Stay out of the water during thunderstorms and other severe weather.
- Pay careful attention to all warning signs or notices concerning tides and undercurrents.
- Never swim tired or cold.
- Don’t swim within half an hour of eating a large meal.
- Pay careful attention to anyone floating on an inflatable in the ocean. It is possible to drift long ways in a short period of time, and the individual may be unable to swim back.
- Inflatables can also be dangerous in a pool. A child can slip under the inflatable and may not be seen as readily by an observer.
- The temperature can seem misleadingly cool when in the water, and it is possible not to realize until later that one has been badly sunburned on the face, shoulders, and back. Sunscreens should be applied and reapplied as necessary for protection.
Two-thirds of people who drown each year are non-swimmers who drown in calm water on a warm summer’s day. Swimming is a skill which every family member should learn at an early age, especially if an individual participates in water sports or activities. Young swimmers should be supervised at all times by an adult. When children are confronted by an unforeseen hazard, they tend to panic which renders any skills they have useless.
Remember, everyone should learn water rescue techniques, as well as CPR, because these skills can make the difference between life and death. |
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