As the warm
summer weather rolls in, people of all ages will be venturing out to find a
relaxing place to cool off. Many parents and kids will be rushing to the local
pools and beaches to share in the refreshing environment that these locations
offer. Before heading out to make a splash, make sure that everyone joining in
on the fun knows the basic rules of safety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about ten
people die every day from unintentional drowning and of these ten, two are
children aged 14 or younger. Among children ages 1 – 14, fatal drowning remains
the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death behind motor
vehicle crashes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list the
following as factors that influence drowning risk:
·
Lack of Swimming Ability
·
Lack of Barriers
·
Lack of Close Supervision
·
Location
·
Failure to Wear Life Jackets
·
Alcohol Use
·
Seizure Disorders
As we get ready to enjoy the warm summers here are some tips from the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to help ensure a fun safe day at the
pool or beach. First, assign a responsible adult to watch young children –
these adults should focus on the children and not partake in other activities.
Preschool children should be close enough to reach at all times while swimming,
playing in, or around the water. Even if there is a lifeguard present, it is
important to have an adult watching over the children while they are in or
around the water. Second, make use of the buddy system. Third, know the local
weather conditions/forecast in the area that you will be swimming in. High
winds and storms are dangerous conditions, especially for swimmers. In addition
to these tips, here are some more provided by the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention:
·
Seizure Disorder Safety – provide one-on-one
supervision around water if you are with someone who has a seizure disorder and
always make sure to wear life jackets when boating
·
Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
·
Air-Filled or Foam Toys are not safety devices
·
Avoid alcohol
·
Don’t let swimmers hyperventilate before
swimming underwater or try to hold their breath for extended periods
o
This can cause “shallow water blackout” and may
result in drowning
·
Know how to prevent recreational water illnesses
Finally,
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention address two specific areas:
swimming pools at home and natural water settings. If you are swimming at a
pool at home:
·
Install a four-sided pool fence that is at least
4 ft high and that separates the pool area from the house/yard
·
Keep the pool and deck areas clean and free of
toys/objects
If you are
at a natural water setting:
·
Use U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets
·
Know the meaning of and obey warnings
represented by colored beach flags
·
Watch for signs of rip currents and dangerous
waves
o
If caught in a rip current swim parallel to
shore
All the
information in this post was provided by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention. For this information and even more on Home & Recreational Safety,
check out the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety
For further
information on water safety and water injuries: http://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html
If you have questions please contact our offices today. (800) 594-7433
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