According to NBCDFW.com there have been 41 drowning’s
in Texas in 2015, 14 of which happened in the DFW area. Most of which have been
children. One is too many but 41 is just way too many. What can we do to
prevent any more of these tragic events? What if you are an excellent swimmer,
should you worry about it happening to you?
If your children are like mine, summertime to them means
swimming. Whether in a pool, an ocean, a lake or even a make shift pool in the
backyard, if there’s water, they want to be in it. They’ve been swimming since
they were little and swim well but of course I still worry about them. Whether
you can swim or not, you still have to be careful.
Having a buddy with you when you go swimming is a wise thing
to do. This way you can watch out for each other and in case of an emergency,
your buddy is there to call for help. Never swim alone, no matter how well you
swim. Accidents can happen so don’t put yourself at risk and take a buddy with
you.
The American Red Cross had great information on their site
about Water Safety. They too recommended using a buddy system. Some of
the things they also suggested were swimming lessons, using life jackets on
younger children and/or not so experienced swimmers, not leaving young children
unattended and to be aware of the temperature and underwater hazards,
especially when swimming in anything besides a pool. Speaking of underwater
hazards, USA TODAY reported that currently the number of shark attacks
is above average for this time of year. If you decided to swim at the beach, go
with a buddy AND keep a very watchful eye out for sharks.
During our hot Texas summer month’s swimming pools have a
very welcoming feel to them. When I see a clean, refreshing pool, I can almost
hear, “The water is fine! Come on in!” It’s very enticing. To a young child,
they may not be able to resist the temptation and jump right in. If you’re a
pool owner, make sure you have a locked gate around it. The American Red Cross advises a 4 foot gate with a self-closing gate that opens away from the
pool is a good way to go. Anything that prevents unsupervised access to your
pool is high recommended. Having an umbrella is also an excellent idea! Not an
umbrella to protect you from the rain but Personal Umbrella Coverage to
protect you and your assets in an event that an incident happens. Give the
office a call today so that we can make sure you have the right insurance and
are covered for incidentals.
Watch your children. That’s the best drowning prevention.
Simply watch and be alert, especially if they are not experienced swimmers.
Don’t leave it up to someone else to watch your kids. Although we appreciate
lifeguards at public pools, they are watching everyone and doing the best they
can. Help them out and keep an eye out as well.
For more information, check out The American Red Cross
website on Water Safety. They have information on Beach, Home Pool and
swim safety.
Keep an eye out for each other and happy swimming!
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| Circle of Drowning Prevention |
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