Feature Articles
Make Way for Water Safety

by Susan J. Marks

A clear turquoise sky, the sting of salty sea spray, children’s laughter and the smell of sunblock and chlorine…these are the sights, sounds and smells of summer. Many families create pleasant summer memories while cooling off at a nearby pool, lake or beach. To keep your family safe and happy, put water safety on your list of things to remember. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, about 350 children under 5 years old in the United States drown in pools every year. Another 2,600 are treated in emergency rooms for near-drowning cases. So if you haven’t taken a water safety course recently, now is a good time to brush up on your skills.

Swimmers Take Your Mark

“The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim,” says Greg Stockton, Red Cross health and safety expert. Your local pool, YMCA or Red Cross chapter has information on swimming classes for all ages and abilities.

Even if your children already know how to swim, you should never leave children unsupervised by water -- not even for a minute. Water-related accidents and drownings occur most often when children swim without adequate adult supervision. Knowing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is a good idea for parents and anyone else who supervises children.

Whether you and your family are cooling off in a pool, lake, pond or ocean, here are vital water safety tips from the Red Cross and other safety organizations:

• Never swim with anything in your mouth, such as gum.
• Never dive in shallow water.
• Never push or hold someone’s head under water.
• Watch out for the “dangerous too’s” -- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun or too much strenuous activity.
• Swim near a lifeguard.
• Always swim with a buddy.
• If you get caught in a current at the beach, don’t fight it. Swim parallel to the shore until you feel the current relax, then head to shore.
• Swim sober. Alcohol can reduce body temperature and impair swimming ability.
• Use a leash with your surfboard or bodyboard.
• If you cannot swim, do not float on a raft or other inflatable device unless you are wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
• Don’t dive headfirst if you are unsure of water depth or you don’t know what lies beneath the water’s surface.

If you’re traveling, don’t forget pool safety at hotels. Know the layout of a pool area and whether the pool is guarded.

Attention Pool Owners
If you own a pool, make safety a priority. Here are some suggestions:

• Know basic aquatic safety.
• Keep a telephone by the pool for emergencies.
• Keep lifesaving equipment by the pool. Know how to use it.
• Surround pools with a fence at least four feet high. Gates should be self-closing and self-locking.
• If a child is missing, check the pool first. Look at the edges, bottom and surface of the water, as well as the pool area.

Ahoy, Matey!

Every year more than 70 million Americans enjoy recreational boating. Nationwide, boat registrations keep climbing too, topping 12.7 million in 2000, according to the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Boating Safety. Despite this increase, fatalities are down -- from 821 in 1997 to 701 in 2000. Here are tips for safe boating:

• Wear a life jacket. If you go overboard, it may save your life.
• Avoid alcoholic beverages. More than one-third of all fatalities resulting from a collision involved alcohol use.
• Be aware of the risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. All internal combustion engines emit CO, an odorless, colorless, poisonous gas. Ensure proper ventilation, maintain and install equipment properly and use CO detectors.
• Complete a boating education course. Primary causes of accidents are operator inattention, carelessness, recklessness, inexperience, unsafe speeds and failure to identify hazards.
• Participate in the Vessel Safety Check Program. It’s a free public service from the Coast Guard Auxiliary and U.S. Power Squadron volunteer organizations. See “Vessel Safety Check Program” at www.usps.org.

Resource Guide

• The Red Cross is one of several groups that offer water safety courses, including basic water rescue, community water safety and learn-to-swim programs. (Contact your local chapter for details or see the Red Cross Web site at www.redcross.org.)
• Your local YMCA or YWCA offers swimming and water safety classes. Look in the Yellow Pages for the Y nearest you or check online at www.ymca.com.
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission details pool fence requirements. It also keeps track of recalls on flotation devices. Parents can check the Web site at www.cpsc.gov or call toll-free 800-638-2772.

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