There is plenty of summertime fun to be had on, in and near water, even in a landlocked state like Colorado. Unfortunately, every year there are also many water-related tragedies. According to National Safety Council statistics, about 10 people die every day from drowning in the U.S. Of 3,709 drownings in 2017, more than 12 percent were children age 4 and younger.Whether summer activities include trips to the local pool, hanging out by a peaceful river or boating across a lake, water safety needs to be a top priority. The key is being mindful and attentive. In the seconds it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen, a child or weak swimmer can drown.The American Red Cross offers three general tips to ensure safety around water.
- Make sure every family member knows basic water and swimming skills. This includes being able to enter the water, get a breath, stay afloat, change position, swim a distance and then safely exit the water.
- Employ layers of protection (barriers to prevent access to water, life jackets, etc.) and closely supervise children to prevent drowning.
- Know what to do in a water emergency, including how to safely help someone in trouble in the water, call for emergency help and perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
- Never swim alone.
- Inexperienced swimmers should stay in water less than chest deep.
- Do not dive into water less than 9 feet deep.
- Stay away from pool drains, pipes and other openings
- Never swim after drinking alcohol. (Alcohol is involved in about half of all male teen drownings, according to KidsHealth.org)
