Swimming safety applies to all ages

It’s the first day of summer, which means swimming season is here. At LCA, we make sure safety comes first — and you should, too. This story from CNN on water safety is a great place to start. While  most safety tips focus on young children, this article points out the oft-overlooked dangers faced by pre-teens and adolescents.

According to the story, out of the 10 drownings that occur almost daily in the United States, about 20% of the victims are under 14, and almost 80% of the victims are male. That should be a red flag for parents or caregivers.

Water safety expert Alison Osinski tells CNN, “The first thing to remember is that drowning doesn’t just happen. Something always precipitates drowning.” 

Keeping that in mind, here are some tips from the article:

• Don’t just learn to swim – learn to swim well, and make sure children do, too.
• Set groundrules before kids jump in the pool
• Beware of peer pressure. Kids often push themselves too hard trying to impress their friends, and exhaustion in the water can be deadly.
• Learn CPR, and learn to use an AED (automated external defibrillator)
• Don’t mix alchohol and watersports. According to the CDC, “More than half of drowning deaths in people older than 15 occur outside of pools, and alcohol is involved in 70% of cases.”
• Be aware of the location of rescue devices such as life preservers.

For more tips, visit The American Red Cross, and have a safe, fun-filled summer!