Are you lucky enough to be in a location that offers year-round water sports?  Maybe you are considering getting away from the harshness of winter and find a beach.  If so there are precautions to take for complete water safety.  Even if you are an experienced swimmer, surfer, or water enthusiast, you need to be ready for whatever comes your way.

Look at the conditions of the day.  Be prepared for a change of weather even if it looks beautiful when you start out.  If you are sailing, have the necessary equipment on board to help you ride out a sudden storm.  Swim, sail, and surf with a buddy.  Watch out for each other and be prepared to give emergency aid if your buddy has difficulties.

Be sure you are in the best physical shape for the activity you will be taking part in.  Swimming is a great form of exercise but do not take on more than you can physically handle.  Cold water, currents, and other natural conditions make swimming in the open water harder than swimming in a pool.  If you are not in good condition, you may find it difficult to swim against the currents and reach shore safely.  Even if you are in shape, knowing what to do in an unexpected emergency may save your life.  If you are caught in a strong current, do not panic!  Swim parallel to the shore until you feel the current relax and then swim toward the shore.  You will not make progress against the current until it relaxes its pull.

Backyard pools are another health hazard, especially for small children.  Swimming lessons are important for small children.  They should not be left unattended in a pool even if they can swim.  Children can still get hurt and get into difficulties in a home pool and swimming lessons may not save them.  Toddlers in a home mean you need to be even more watchful.  Alarms on the doors that alert you when a door is open, and sensors around the pool to warn you if your child gets too close will help keep your children safe.

Teenagers are at risk in the family pool or partying on a lake.  Alcohol use is involved in about 25 to 50 percent of adult and teen deaths associated with the water.  Your judgment needs to be at its best if you are responsible for small children or supervising teens.  Alcohol is a major contributing factor to water recreation accidents.

A victim may also drown if they have an unexpected heart attack while in the water, exhaustion, and hypothermia can occur causing the person to fall into a coma.  A person who is drunk can drown even in a small puddle!  It only takes a few scant inches of water to drown if the victim falls face first into the water and can’t move. 

Boating accidents can be avoided if boaters are wearing the right flotation device.  Even experienced swimmers and boaters may run into problems and be unable to function after they fall in the water.  Statistics tell us 89 percent of boating related deaths were not wearing a life jacket or personal flotation device. 

Home spas, whirlpool bathtubs, and hot tubs also contribute to drowning deaths.  The suction from drain outlets has caused many accidents among people who have shoulder length or longer hair.  Hair can be sucked into the drain outlets and hold the person’s head underwater until they drown.  If you are in a hot tub, whirlpool, or spa, wear your hair pinned up, or wear a cap to prevent your hair getting caught in suction drain outlets.

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