Water Safety
The first goal of our program is water safety. And, while it is quite a bit more than this, water safety is fundamentally about drowning prevention. From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day. An additional 332 people died each year from drowning in boating-related incidents. About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger. The loss of a child for any reason is a terrible blow; however, a loss that could have been prevented is pure and simple tragedy.
Here are some great tips to help keep your family safer in and around the water.
- Take swim lessons.
- Never swim alone.
- Swim only where there is qualified supervision. A supervisor should know:
- CPR
- First Aid
- Rescue procedures
- Have a cordless phone poolside.
- Never leave toys in or around the pool when not in use.
- Swim in pools where the water is clear and you can see the drain.
- Follow pool rules:
- No glass containers.
- Dive only in designated areas.
- No running.
- No eating or chewing gum while swimming.
- Wear a swim suit.
- Use only Coast Guard approved flotation devices while boating and fishing. Do not substitute inflatable toys for adult supervision.
- If someone is in trouble, find something that will float to throw, or reach out to the person … if nothing is around, YELL WHILE RUNNING FOR HELP!
- Evacuate pool and deck at first signs of thunder or lightning.
- Use layered protection:
- Fences surrounding pools.
- Self closing, self latching gates.
- Dead bolts on doors leading to the pool.
- Weight-bearing pool covers.