Healthy Living: Water Safety

Drowning is a silent killer.  Did you know that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2011) “every day, about 10 people die from unintentional drowning and that of these, two are children aged 14 or younger?  Or that drowning is the 6^th leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages, and it is the 2^nd leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 14 years of age?  Or that nonfatal drownings can cause brain damage that may result in long-term disabilities including memory problems, learning disabilities, and permanent loss of basic functioning (e.g., permanent vegetative state)?”  Please don’t be fooled, you will never hear a person who is in serious trouble in the water.  Instead, they will silently slip beneath the water’s surface and be gone from our lives, just that quick! 

So, while playing in cold water during the hot summer months may seem like a great way for many people to cool off and rejuvenate themselves, there can be hidden dangers that you must be prepared for.  Whether you like to go swimming, boating, fishing, or rafting it is important to be observant and stay safe throughout these fun and relaxing activities.  This month’s article will focus on water safety and what you can do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe in the water.

General Water Safety Tips

The following is a list of safety suggestions that all families should observe when they are around water:

·         Learn to swim

·         Swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard

·         Non-swimmers: wear a flotation device when around water

·         Never leave the room when children are in the tub

·         Know that a baby bath seat or ring won’t keep children from drowning

·         Empty and turn over all buckets as soon as you are done using them

·         Do not swim if you are “too”:  tired, cold, or far from safety

·         Set water safety rules for the whole family

·         Be knowledgeable of the water environment and its potential hazards

·         Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts

·         Use a feet-first entry when entering water

·         Do not dive unless it is clearly marked

·         Do not mix alcohol with swimming, diving, or boating

·         Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to water emergencies

·         Parents should take a CPR class

·         Enroll your children in a water safety course

·         Don’t rely on flotation devices to keep your children safe in the water

·         Maintain constant supervision in any water environment

Beach Safety Tips

The following is a list of safety suggestions that all families should observe when they are at the beach:

·         Protect your skin from sun burns

·         Drink plenty of water even if you don’t feel thirsty

·         Teach kids never to swim alone

·         Watch for signs of heat stroke

·         Wear eye protection

·         Wear foot protection

Boating Safety Tips

The following is a list of safety suggestions that all families should observe when they are sailing, fishing, or around watercraft:

·         Learn to swim

·         Alcohol and boating don’t mix

·         Use only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets when boating and fishing

·         Develop a float plan in case of emergencies

·         Fins a boating course in your area

·         Watch the weather

Home Pools Tips

The following is a list of safety suggestions that all families should observe when they are around backyard or public pools:

·         Learn to swim

·         Never leave a child unobserved around water

·         Keep a cordless or cell phone nearby the pool in case of emergency

·         Learn Red Cross CPR and insist all caregivers for your child know it, too

·         Post CPR instructions and 9-1-1 or local emergency number in the pool area

·         Enclose the pool with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars

·         Never leave a gate to the pool open

·         Teach kids to stay away from pool and hot tub drains

·         Keep a first aid kit at poolside

·         Never assume someone else is watching a child in a pool area

·         Never leave furniture near the pool fence

·         Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by the pool and know how to use it

·         Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use

·         Pool covers should always be completely removed prior to pool use

·         If a child is missing, always check the pool first

Lakes and Rivers Safety Tips

The following is a list of safety suggestions that all families should observe when they are fishing, boating, or rafting on lakes or rivers:

·         Learn to swim

·         Select a supervised area

·         Select an area that is clean and well-maintained

·         Select an area that has good water quality and safe natural conditions

·         Don’t let kids operate personal watercraft such as jet skis

·         Make sure the water is deep enough before entering head-first

·         Be sure rafts and docks are in good condition

·         Avoid drainage ditches and arroyos for water run-off

Suggested References :

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for injury Prevention and Control.  Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System (WISQARS) [online]. [cited 2011 Apr 6]. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/injury/wisqars

Health and safety tips: Water safety tips (2012).  The American National Red Cross.

Water safety (2012).  Safe Kids, USA.

Water safety tips (2012).  International Swimming Hall of Fame (ISHOF). 

Water safety updates (2012).  National Water Safety Month.  

Questions or Comments?   Please contact: Sabra Jacobs, Professor of Psychology, Big Sandy Community and Technical College, 1 Bert T. Combs Drive, Prestonsburg, KY 41653; email sabra.jacobs@kctcs.edu ; call (606) 889-4778; or stop by my office Pike Building, room 209 f on the Prestonsburg Campus.