Lifeguard safety tips for swimming this summer!

by Gavin Ockert, Bank of America Student Leader

Summer is here, and now is the perfect time to go swimming with family and friends. Beaches and pools are aquatic hotspots for people of all ages looking to have a great time and cool off as the weather heats up. However, as drowning deaths peak during the summer months, it’s vital to remember that safety comes first when swimming, especially in greater depths. We spoke with YMCA lifeguard Kira Buchler and compiled a few essential tips to make sure that you and your children stay safe in the water this summer. 

What is the most common safety concern that you have as an experienced lifeguard? 

Kira told us that parental supervision is the most frequently disregarded safety measure at both the pool and the beach. When you are with your children, always be sure to keep a close eye on them, even if they are around other people. Drownings can happen quickly and quietly, even in public pools with adults nearby. Educating parents and our children about the dangers of swimming and the precautions that must be taken in pools, the ocean, or other bodies of water will help reduce the number of injuries and deaths caused by drowning while still enabling millions of families to have fun in the water every year. 

Life jackets, life jackets, life jackets! 

For kids who do not yet know how to swim or who are just learning, life jackets are an important safety measure to keep them afloat. Kira recommends that all children between the ages of 1 and 4 years old, in addition to any child under 48 inches who cannot swim, be equipped with a life jacket when a parent is not in the water with them. Life jackets prevent kids from sinking below the water, even in depths where they cannot stand. If you’re with your young children in the water, life jackets are not necessary so long as you are devoting your full attention towards monitoring and supporting them. Avoid deeper waters until your children can swim or stand unless you are with them in the water. 

Display extra swimming caution at the beach. 

Unlike a pool, the ocean has waves, currents, and stretches for many, many miles into the horizon. These signature components of the ocean make it a potential danger, especially for younger children. Kira recommends that, if a child cannot swim, then that child should be attended to by a parent “100% of the time” and should abstain from traveling anywhere beyond knee or waist depth in the water. Additionally, pay close attention to any beach warning flags, as they indicate the ocean’s current hazard level. Green flags represent calm waters, yellow flags say to exercise caution, and red flags generally mean that the water is too dangerous to swim in. 

Additionally, riptides, or strong currents that can pull people away from the shore and into deeper waters, serve as another threat at the beach that swimmers need to look out for. If caught in a riptide, it is important not to fight the current and try to swim against it, as this will tire you out and can result in drowning. Instead, focus on treading water, getting others’ attention, and staying afloat until there is a break in the current. Once you are no longer being pulled, swim back to shore. Ensuring that you and your children are aware of what to do in the event of a riptide is a key safety precaution that will keep you and your family safe at the beach. 

Be aware of storms and inclement weather. 

While you should always avoid being outside during a thunderstorm, it is especially important to stay away from lightning when you are in the water, even if it is not raining yet. Kira says that if lightning is spotted within five miles of a pool, it is highly recommended that everyone leaves the water until thirty minutes have passed since the last lightning strike. This is especially important at the beach, where, according to the NOAA, strikes on the water can spread and electrocute nearby fish and people. If you hear thunder or see lightning, make sure that you and your children retreat to at least 100 yards away from the shoreline. 

Thank you, Kira! Let’s have a fun summer and be safe around water!

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