Water Safety "Tips To Live By"

In an effort to save lives this summer, the American Red Cross strongly urges Americans to be prepared in, on and around the water in hopes of reducing the number of drowning and injuries this summer.

Drowning is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 1 to 24 and the seventh leading cause for adults over 24, according to the National Safety Council's 1998 Accident Facts Report.

"Lives can be saved this summer if people use caution in, on and around the water and learn the proper rescue techniques for drowning victims," said Susan Livingstone, Vice President, Health and Safety Services, American Red Cross.  

The American Red Cross' Water Safety Tips highlight the need to know your swimming limits, how to avoid a back and neck injury when diving into the water, and signs to look for indicating an emergency.

Drowning can occur in home pools, community pools, oceans, lakes, water parks, bathtubs or even large buckets. "People need to know the dangers involved and know how to take action in an emergency, because when an emergency situation arises, Help Can't Wait," Livingstone added.

Help Can't Wait is the Red Cross's slogan which embodies all that the Red Cross does from helping millions of Americans prevent tragedies through its various training courses to providing immediate relief to those in serious need, every day of the year, in communities across the nation.

The American Red Cross has provided health and safety services to people across the nation for more than 80 years as part of the organization's mission of emergency prevention and preparedness. In developing training programs, the Red Cross relies on the consensus of American medical opinion represented by the American Heart Association's Emergency Cardiac Care Committee, the National Academy of Science Institute of Medicine and other widely noted experts in the field to define rescue techniques.

To learn more about how to take precautions this summer and how to help those in emergency situations when Help Can't Wait, contact your local American Red Cross.

AMERICAN RED CROSS WATER SAFETY TIPS TO LIVE BY

  Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
   Know your swimming limits and stay within them. Don't try to keep up with a stronger skilled swimmer or encourage others to keep up with you.
  Keep an eye on weaker swimmers -- if they appear tired, encourage them to rest on land.
   Alcohol and swimming don't mix. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination. It affects your swimming and diving skills and reduces your body's ability to stay warm.
  Obey "No Diving" signs which indicate the area is unsafe for headfirst entries. Enter feet first into water rather than headfirst if you don't know the depth. In addition, learn the correct way to dive from a qualified instructor.
   Watch out for the "dangerous too's" -- too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
  Swim in supervised areas only. Do not chew gum or eat while you swim; you could easily choke.
  Use common sense about swimming after eating. In general, you do not have to wait an hour after eating before you may safely swim. However, if you have had a large meal, it is wise to let digestion get started before doing strenuous activity such as swimming.
  Always wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating and fishing.
  Know local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Because water conducts electricity, it is wise to stop swimming or boating as soon as you see or hear a storm.
  Know how to prevent, recognize and respond to emergencies.
  Remember CHECK-CALL-CARE:
CHECK the scene to ensure it's safe and CHECK the victim.
CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number, and
CARE for the person until help arrives.

In the event of a drowning:

Remove the victim from the water, have someone call 911 or your local emergency number.

1. Check consciousness and breathing.
2. If not breathing, open the airway and attempt rescue breathing.
3. If breaths do not go in, re-tilt the head and attempt rescue breathing again.
If air still does not go in, give abdominal thrusts (Heimlich maneuver) for children and adults to clear the airway.
4. Once the airway is clear, provide rescue breathing or CPR as needed.

To learn more about water safety or to enroll in a water safety & CPR course.
Contact your local Red Cross.

Drowning Signs and Symptoms

Drowning victims look dead. Their skin is blue and cold to the touch. They have no detectable heartbeat or breathing. And their eyes are fixed and pupils dilated.

Water Rescue - Call 911, in the meantime:

Try to reach a person who's drowning from land first with your hand outstretched. Hold onto something with your other hand, so the victim can't pull you into the water.

If the victim is too far from you, try extending a long pole or throwing a ring buoy. Again, hold on to something else so the victim doesn't pull you in the water.

If the victim is close enough to the shallow water for you to wade in and hand or throw him the assist, do so.

If a boat is available, row to the victim. If not and you'd have to swim to the victim, do so only if you're a strong swimmer.

Bring along a floating assist if you swim to the victim. Throw it out and pull the victim to shore.

Begin artificial respiration at once to restore breathing.

If the victim's heart stops, give cardiopulmonary resuscitation, if you know CPR.

Keep the victim warm by covering him or her with a blanket, but be careful not to overheat.

Call for help or get the person to the nearest medical facility.

      Tips For Safe Boating

U.S. Coast Guard Boating Safety Hotline -- 1-800-368-5647

More Boating Safety

Have a working knowledge of your boat, and always keep your boat and engine in good repair.

Know distress signals and the use of devices such as orange smoke and a distress flag, red meteors and flares, and a distress signal light.

Exercise precautions when you're ready to refuel. Close all doors, hatches and ports. Extinguish galley fires and pilot lights. Don't smoke. Keep the filling nozzle in contact with the tank to prevent sparks. Fuel portable tanks outside the boat. And don't use gasoline stoves, heaters, and lighters on board.

Don't operate electronic gear such as radios while fueling and be sure you know your fuel tank capacity.

Ventilate all compartments and check the machinery and fuel tank spaces for fumes before starting the motor.

Always have children and non-swimmers wear personal flotation devices. Make sure that everyone on board knows how to put them on and that you have an adequate number on board.

Avoid operating in the vicinity of a diver's flag or where swimmers are.

If you capsize, stay with the boat if it continues to float.

Avoid tripping hazards by keeping the boat clean.

Carry a back-up system on a small boat--a second engine or even oars and paddles.

Make sure your boat is equipped with a bailer. You may want to carry a hand bailer or scoop even if you have an electric pump.

Carry a compass--and learn how to use it--if you operate in large bodies of water.

Water ski only when you're clear of other boats and swimmers. Make sure there are two people in the boat: one to watch the skier and another to operate the boat.

Always tell at least one other person on board how to handle your boat in case you become disabled or fall overboard.

Before you leave on any boat trip, leave a float plan that includes the approximate time of arrival or return, a detailed description of the boat, including name, make, length, and registration, the names and telephone numbers of everyone on board; safety equipment on board; and contact information for the Coast Guard.

Teach everyone on board how to locate, use, and stow all safety equipment including personal flotation devices (PFDs), flares, smoke signals, flashlights, food and water, and paddles.

Know how to load your boat properly. Distribute the load evenly. Keep the load low. Don't stand up in a small boat. And don't overload. If the water is rough, reduce the number of people you carry.