Summer fun can easily turn tragic if the proper precautions are not taken when heading out into the water for a swim.
The American Red Cross reminds swimmers that although outdoor activities are often the highlight of summer, children and parents shouldn’t take a vacation from safety. Learning to swim and swim well is the first tip for staying safe in the water this season.
No one, including adults, should ever swim alone. Green’s Park lifeguard and Lake Orion resident Stan Ford said that young children should also never be left alone in the water, even if a lifeguard is present.
“Parents should keep a close eye, not just relying on anyone else,” he said. “With younger kids, that child needs to have someone right there in the water with them.”
Knowing your child’s skills and limits in the water is also essential. Jerry Huey, director of health and safety services for the Southeastern Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross said “Parents should take into account that with no practice, it is a safe bet that the skills their child exhibited in the water at the end of last season are not the same.
“Also, you can’t assume they’re the same in open water environments like the beach or lake, as they are in the pool,” he said. “Give your child the chance to get acclimated to the water again, and to a new environment.”
Ford, who has lifeguarded at Green’s Park for 22 years, said that giving kids proper safety training and a respect for the water are essential.
“You have to have enough strength to say ‘I’m not going to do that because it’s unsafe,'” he said. “They should have a respect for the water.”
Ford also advises to be familiar with the area where you are swimming.
“And always have someone with you, preferably a parent,” he said.
The American Red Cross advises that everyone be outfitted with the proper gear before going into the water. Kids, and even adults, who are not strong swimmers or who appear to rely on inflatable toys for safety should use US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) whenever they are in or around the water.
Everyone, including strong swimmers, should use an approved PFD when boating. Each person should have the appropriate personal flotation device for his or her weight and size, which is found clearly marked inside the label near the Coast Guard stamp.
“A great idea is to make a family day out of learning the rules of water safety and shopping for durable safety equipment together,” suggested Huey.
The American Red Cross also advises that basic life saving equipment be kept by residential pools, and that swimmers are taught how to use it. A first aid kit, cordless phone, phone list with emergency numbers, a reaching pole and a ring buoy with a nylon line attached are recommended. Huey said it is also recommended that pools be surrounded on all sides by a fence at least four feet high.
Finally, the Red Cross says to pack a “safety” bag for a day at the beach or lake, including a travel size first aid kit, water-proof sunscreen, and water shoes to keep feet safe.
Ford said every year the lifeguards at Green’s Park go over CPR with the kids that are swimming there, and that parents should do the same with their own children.
“The (Lake Orion Village Council) is talking about keeping Green’s Park open longer, with no lifeguard,” he said. “But sometimes, things that are the most fun are the most dangerous…It’s harder to enforce the rules if lifeguards are only here part of the time.”
Ford said when swimming on a lake, there is a lot more to be concerned about, such as weather conditions.
“We keep an eye out for the weather,” he said. “We’re fully aware of where you can dive…or proper behavior on the dock. That wouldn’t be corrected if no lifeguards were here.”
Ford said it’s also important for people to stay within the designated swimming area.
“We are watching for unsafe behavior,” he said. “Some people in the village think if you put up signs, that will do it…but signs never pulled anyone out of the water.”
The Southeastern Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross offers ongoing courses in First Aid/CPR/AED throughout Wayne, Oakland and Macomb Counties. In addition, first aid kits are available for purchase through your local Red Cross chapter. For more information, call (313) 576-4100.