Summer is a time for fun in and around water- swimming, floating, boating, and just hanging out near the lake or pool. As much fun as water is, it also can be extremely dangerous. Even though it is only April, hot weather will be here soon, and besides it’s always a good time to talk about safety!
So many of us have watched the movies where someone is “drowning”, and to show it they are splashing wildly and screaming for help. That’s not what anyone should expect from someone who is truly drowning. When a person is drowning there will likely be no noise at all, and they will have disappeared from the surface of the water making splashing impossible. If anyone goes down and does not resurface they could be actively drowning.
Never swim alone, no matter how good of a swimmer you are it’s not a good idea to go alone. Having a swim buddy allows both parties to be safer.
Keep a close watch on any kids, even when a lifeguard is around. If you take a child to swim avoid any distraction and provide as constant as possible attention to that child.
If not in an are with a life guard assign someone the task of watching the entire group, adults can drown too.
Do not rely on any sort of floaty device to replace the need for adult supervision. An adult should never be further than arms reach from an inexperienced swimmer, even one in a floatation device.
Swim lessons can save lives. If you frequent swimming pools, have ponds or other bodies of water close to your home, or own your own swimming pool especially consider enrolling your children in swim lessons. Even those who aren’t often around water can have more peace of mind in regards to their children if they have had proper swim lessons.
Additionally, choosing the right swim suit color is important. Even the best swimmer can have tragedy strike. Aquatic Safety Connection did a test on what color swim wear is most visible in pools and lakes.
The colors most visible in pools were neon pink and neon orange. In lakes and the like the murky water made any color almost impossible to see at 2 feet deep, but colors tested in 18 inches of water showed neon yellow, neon green, and neon orange were the most visible. Looking for the neon colors that reflect where your swimmers are most often when shopping for swim suits could result in a much better outcome should the unthinkable happen and your child need help. For more great swimming safety tips check out Aquatic Safety Connection at alive-solutions.com and on Facebook. Special thanks to them for allowing us to share their photos!
