Follow swimming safety tips to avoid injuries during warmer weather
It’s not summer yet, but the rising temperatures already have people hitting their favorite swimming places to keep cool. While taking a dip at your favorite lake, pool, river or beach is enjoyable, there are some dos and don’ts you should follow to stay safe.
WATCH THE KIDS
Be watchful when children are in the water. You can never be too careful. Drowning results in more deaths among children ages 1 to 4 than any other cause except birth defects. Whether in a pool or a lake, children need to be monitored carefully. When a crowd is present, don’t assume someone else is watching your child if you step away to get a drink of water or a hot dog.
It is advised that all parents keep an eye on their own children and that they choose a designated watcher if they have to leave while their kids are in the water.
RESPECT THE WATER
While your neighborhood swimming pool doesn’t likely have anything dangerous lurking in the deep, that is not always the case when you are in a lake, river or ocean.
If you are unfamiliar with where you are swimming and it is shallow, exercise caution when you enter. Don’t dive into water if you don’t know how deep it is or what might be in it. Enter feet first and be observant about the conditions.
Most safety tips warn that you should make sure if you dive the water is at least 9 feet deep with nothing in it that you might hit. Also, that 9-foot rule is only good if you are standing at the water’s edge. If you are diving from a boat or any other elevated place, you need to make sure the water is deep enough.
If you are swimming in the ocean, avoid areas with moving water, waves or rip currents. A rip current can pull you out into deeper water and make it very difficult to swim directly back to shore. If possible, swim where lifeguards are present and be aware of weather advisories that can indicate if there are any dangers.
SWIM SOBER
Alcohol can affect your judgment, coordination and stamina. While often having a drink or two is often associated with summer fun by the water, mixing the two is not a good idea. If you suspect someone has been drinking, try to encourage them not to get in the water, and driving a boat is out of the question.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the use of alcohol is involved in: ♦ up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation
♦ nearly 1 in 4 emergency department visits for drowning
♦ about 1 in 5 reported boating deaths
Some prescription drugs can also increase the risk of drowning, especially medications that are often prescribed for depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and other conditions. According to the CDC, side effects from these medications can be similar to the effects of alcohol, including poor judgment and decreased coordination.