The Ultimate Guide To Swimming Safety

Warm temperatures and abundant sunshine, the perfect conditions for a summer swimming session! With the start of summer only a few weeks away, thousands of people will flock to pools, beaches, lakes and rivers to hit the water and escape the heat. 

Spending time in the water is great, but making sure its done safely is even more important. Tragically, thousands of people drown every year and many of these could be prevented by practicing safe swimming. 

Let’s take a look at these incredibly important swimming safety tips so your aquatic adventure can be fun and memorable!

1. Never Swim Alone

While this may seem like a tip that only applies to kids, adults should also follow this guideline. Swimming by yourself posses many dangers, especially if you’re in a remote location.

Should the unthinkable happen and you’re knocked unconscious, having someone with you can prevent drowning and help get you to safety. If you’re swimming in a popular area like a pool, lake or beach, lifeguards will be on duty to ensure your safety. 

Using the buddy system is a great way for both children and adults to stay safe in the water. Ensure that you’re always swimming near a friend or sibling so you can both look out for each other should something happen. 

2. Know How To Swim

This rule seems like an obvious one, but surprisingly, that’s not always the case. You wouldn’t get behind the wheel of a car if you didn’t know how to drive, right? The same applies for getting in the water. 

Children and adults who can’t swim need to take proper lessons in order to learn this skill. Even if you wear a lifejacket or other safety gear when you swim, knowing how to stay afloat without these is very important.    

3. Make Sure The Water Is Safe

Even if you’re swimming in a well established spot like a public pool, lake or beach, taking a few moments to check the water before jumping in is always a good idea. 

If you’re swimming in a natural body of water, look to make sure there’s no debris or dangerous objects hiding below the surface. For those swimming in pools, be sure the water is clear and not oddly colored. 

4. Jump In Feet First

When entering a body of water, especially one where you can’t see the bottom, going in feet first is important to prevent serious and severe injuries. Diving into shallow water will likely result in head trauma and unconsciousness which is extremely dangerous.

For those who do want to dive in, many public pools and lakes have diving areas that have been cleared for this activity. It’s also important to know how to dive safely and properly, even in these designated areas. 

5. Swim In Designated Areas

Almost all public swimming spots have areas designated for swimmers. It’s important to respect these boundaries and stay within them as they’re setup to ensure your safety. 

Many pools have ropes that divide the deeper waters from the shallow sections while lakes and oceans have guidelines established by the local lifeguards on where to swim. 

6. “Reach, Throw, Don’t Go”

While it may be instinctive to jump into the water to save someone who is drowning, this has the potential to put both yourself and the other individual at risk. Instead, it is recommended that you follow the “reach, throw, don’t go” guideline.

Using a long object or flotation device to pull a swimmer from dry land is a much safer technique for those who are untrained in water rescue. You should also alert those around to find the proper authorities who can finish aiding the distressed swimmer. 

8. Avoid Alcohol 

If you’re planning on going in the water, doing so sober is your best bet to staying safe and out of danger while you’re swimming. It’s also important that individuals who have been designated to look out for those in the water don’t drink as well. 

9. Drink Plenty of Water 

While alcohol should be avoided, drinking water is very important for any swimming related activities. It may seem unnecessary given water is where a swimmer spends most of their time, but dehydration is a real risk since the body can’t absorb water through the skin.

It’s often difficult to tell whether you’re as risk of dehydration, so the rule of thumb would be to drink water, even if you’re not thirsty. This is because sweat loss is hard to monitor when you’re in the water. 

Conclusion

With these effective tips, you can enjoy fun summer days of splashing around all while being safe and preventative. Talk with other members of your swimming group, especially young children and make sure they understand and implement these tips into their next swimming adventure!