Our Top 10 Water Safety Guidelines
Posted on July 1, 2018 in Community, Hot Topics, Public Safety
Did you know that drowning is the second leading cause of injury-related death in children 1-14 in the United States? According to the WA State Department of Health, for children ages 1-4 most drownings occur in residential swimming pools where the child had been last seen in the home, had been missing for less than 5 minutes, and was under the supervision of one or both parents.
As summer ramps up and pools, lakes, rivers, and beaches become a family destination, we urge you to keep these ten water safety guidelines in mind for you and your loved ones:
- Learn to swim.
- Take water safety class, learn first aid and CPR (like the CPR class we offer!).
- If operating a boat in the state of Washington – you must have a Boater Education Card.
- ALWAYS supervise children on, in or around water.
- Do not drink alcohol while swimming or boating.
- Do not attempt a rescue unless you have specialized training and/or equipment.
- Be aware of your surroundings and potential water hazards.
- Moving water (rivers) is very dangerous. Good swimmer or not, always wear a life jacket.
- Pay attention to the weather and tide tables.
- Know the temperature of the water to prevent hypothermia.
For even more information on water safety and drowning prevention, visit the Washington State Drowning Prevention Network.
