Drownings on the rise – FREE resources available in Dallas-Fort Worth!

by Sydney Holt, volunteer contributor

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infographic!

With the Dallas-Fort Worth region still experiencing major droughts, your lake plans and annual safety preparations may have fallen to the wayside, but here’s why they shouldn’t. Believe it or not, drownings are on the rise this summer!

While drownings are the #1 cause of death for kids five and under, it’s important to remember that water does not discriminate. Take a minute to review these FREE and low-cost local resources so you can relax and enjoy some fun in the sun this season. 

• Assessments – Seems simple enough but don’t just learn to swim, be a confident swimmer. Your local YMCA offers free Swim Assessments to assess swimming ability. Times and locations vary – see here.
• Activities – Grab a group of your neighbors and take a walk around your community identifying any potential threats for drownings. Identify creeks and other bodies of water nearby, pools without safety fences, empty and turn over and large containers or buckets of water, and talk to your unexperienced swimmers about the importance of only swimming with an adult present. It’s a free activity, and more importantly another touch point to talk to your kids about water safety!
• App – Yes, there’s an App for that! The free Red Cross Swim App will help you keep your swimmer motivated, while providing you the latest in water safety guidance to help ensure your family stays safe in, on and around the water. Download it directly from the iTunes, Google Play or Amazon Marketplace app stores.
• Accountability – Many celebrations take place with family and friends during the summer months, and while adults are present it’s important to designate who will be responsible for supervising swimmers at all times. Another option is to contact a local community pool and ask if they have any certified lifeguards available for hire – a small price to pay for safety.
• Act – If you are sending your inexperienced swimmer with an older sibling or babysitter, remind them of any safety devices needed such as floaties or a life jacket. Also remind them that if any accident should occur don’t be afraid to seek help for fear of getting in trouble – Every second counts, call 9-1-1 immediately and ask an adult for help!

Remember, the Red Cross offers a number of swim classes for all levels. Check out RedCross.org to find one near you.

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The (Safe) Life Aquatic: Water Safety Tips for a Happy Summer

by Lauren McMinn Clarke, volunteer contributor

Do you prefer SPF 15 or SPF 75? Is your typical water entry a sleek dive or a crashing cannonball? Do you like to mingle with the fish, or would you rather float on a sherbet raft above the fray?

Whatever your heat-escaping water preferences are, it is so important to remember some general safety tips for your upcoming aqueous adventures.

Here are some basic safety reminders:

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
• 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 child 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.
• Establish rules for your family and enforce them without fail. For example, set limits based on each person’s ability, do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings, and do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under water or have breath-holding contests.
• Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.
• If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning. 
• Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.

Please visit RedCross.org for a comprehensive list of water safety tips.

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