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Archive: June 2015

SUMMER WATER SAFETY TIPS

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SUMMER WATER SAFETY GUIDE

 

In a survey conducted by the American Red Cross, many adults say they’ve had an experience where they nearly drowned, and one in four know someone who has drowned.

 

While over 90% of families with young children will be in the water at some point this summer, almost half (48%) plan to swim in a place with no lifeguard. With so many planning to be in, on or near the water, it is important to follow the basics of water safety, maintain constant supervision and to get trained!

 

PRACTICE WATER SAFETY

  • Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
  • Always swim with a friend; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
  • Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
  • Never leave a young unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
  • Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.

 

WHEN SHOULD YOU WEAR A LIFE JACKET?

  • Always wear a life jacket when boating or rafting and when using an inner tube or personal watercraft.
  • Children and inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets whenever in, or around the water, even if a lifeguard is present.
  • Wear life jackets in open water, water parks or other challenging environments and around cold water and ice.

 

DROWNING FACTS

 

HOW MUCH TIME DOES IT TAKE TO DROWN? IN THE TIME IT TAKES TO…

  • Cross a room for a towel (10 sec), a child in a bathtub can be submerged.
  • Answer the phone (2 min), a child can lose consciousness

 

HOW MUCH WATER DOES IT TAKE TO DROWN?

  • Inches of water in a bathtub.
  • A bucket of water.
  • Standing water on top of a pool or spa cover.
  • Any amount of water that covers the mouth & nose.