By Lorie Lewis Ham
With the heat this year in many areas being so brutal, you are probably trying to come up with ways to cool off, and many of those ways most likely involve water—whether it be a community swimming pool, a pool in your own backyard, playing in the sprinkler, going to a water park, or enjoying a lake, river, or ocean. If you are considering any of those escapes this summer remember to be safe! You don’t want summer fun to turn into summer tragedy.
There are many things to consider when it comes to being safe in the water. In 2019, I wrote an article on pool safety that included common sense tips such as never swimming alone, and putting a fence around the pool to keep small children and pets from falling in. You can find all of those tips here, and even more in another past article that talks about the dangers of stringing lights near a pool.
“I think pool safety is important,” states Mennonite Insurance’s Chief Executive Officer Jerry Linscheid. “Most of the people who die in pools are young children and the death probably was preventable. That is devastating to a family.”
But what about safety involving other types of water fun? The American Red Cross provides safety tips for all kinds. Their top things to keep in mind are:
- Be sure you are water competent for natural environments before swimming – this is not your home pool!
- Always enter unknown or shallow water feet first.
- Watch out for currents, waves, and underwater obstructions – they’re not just found in the ocean.
They also recommend that every member of the family learn how to swim and what to do in an emergency. Their tips for swimming safely at the beach include always swimming in an area that has a lifeguard. And in all of these places, they advise being aware of the weather and heeding any warnings.
Another form of water fun that has become popular in the last few years is splash parks/pads. According to Pediatrix, while you don’t have to worry about drowning accidents here, there are still some precautions that need to be taken which include asking the facility manager how often they test the water, and what methods are used to filter and decontaminate it. Other tips include using swim shoes to prevent slipping, stepping on sharp objects, or burning feet on hot pavement, enforcing a no-running rule, and wearing sunscreen (which is a good idea no matter what type of water fun you are enjoying).
If you are planning on some more grown-up fun in the water such as surfing, body boarding, or other water sports, this article at realbuzz.com has several safety tips. One important thing the article states is to have as much information and education about the sport as possible.
