Water Fun - Friend or Foe

/

It is time for fun in the sun and fun in the sun involves water.  While enjoying the summer months with friends and family, it is important to remain alert to water safety every day and every time you are around water. Children ages 1-4 have the highest drowning rates and most drownings in this age group occur in home swimming pools. Except for birth defects, drowning is responsible for more deaths among children ages 1-4 years than any other cause. Drownings in natural water settings and boating related accidents increase with age.  In 2010, almost three quarters of boating deaths were caused by drowning with close to 90% of victims not wearing life jackets. Alcohol use is involved with up to 70% of deaths associated with water recreation in adolescents and adults. Half of swimmers who experience a non fatal drowning event require hospitalization. Drowning injuries can result in long term disabilities such as memory loss, learning disabilities and loss of basic functions.

Tips for a summer of safe play in the water:

  • Designate an adult to watch children in or around water at all times. Drowning occurs quickly and quietly with no shouting or splashing.  Someone who is drowning can often look like they are being playful with their head in the water as they struggle to stay afloat, therefore, the supervising adult should not be distracted by reading, phone use, food preparation, lawn mowing or any other activity.
  • Partake in formal swimming lessons but don’t assume that swimmers cannot drown. Often good swimmers will take more risks especially in natural water settings and also risk swimming alone.
  • Always swim with a buddy and select swimming sites where a lifeguard is present. Do not depend solely on the lifeguard to supervise children
  • Learn Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
  • Avoid alcohol before or during swimming, boating or water sports and especially when supervising children.   
  • Educate children in avoiding participation in underwater breath holding games.  This can cause a swimmer to blackout under water and drown.
  • Isolate pools with a four-sided fence.  Four sided fences reduce a young child’s risk of drowning by 83%.
  • Wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets when boating. Do not depend on air filled or foam toys like water wings and “noodles” to keep swimmers safe.
  • Know the weather conditions and rip current risk before heading out.

Swimming, boating and enjoying natural settings are fabulous ways to enjoy the summer and each other when attention to safety accompanies the fun. Enjoy!