Stay safe this summer — and help prevent a drowning tragedy

With Memorial Day Weekend ahead, we welcome the summer. But it is also important to stay safe in the water, and avoid tragic drowning deaths. Trends show that they often are preventable. Drowning is the second leading cause of accidental death in the U.S. among children under age 14, and the leading cause of accidental death for children five and under. Parents should know that constant “active” supervision by responsible adults is the first — and most critical — step toward prevention. A child should never be left unattended, as 75 percent of child drowning deaths occur in under five minutes. 

The key to reducing drowning events includes these key factors: prevention, recognition and action. Prevention is most important, since most are preventable. 

Prevention:

- Learn to swim and teach your children how to swim and water safety

- Never swim alone, even if a good swimmer, if you develop cramp or have any other trouble, there is no one to raise the alarm.

- Never swim in open water with out a lifeguard, and always listen to their instructions — they are there for your safety

- Never swim when impaired

Recognition

- What an active drowning victim looks like

- Indicators of dangerous water including rip currents

- When to not enter the water (people often drown trying to assist others)

Action

- Know how to safely assist or call for assistance

- Practice “Reach Throw Row Go” 

- Learn CPR

Rip Currents

Rip currents are channelized currents of water flowing away from shore at surf beaches. They typically form at breaks in sandbars, near structures such as jetties and piers. Their speeds can vary on average from 1-2 feet per second, or as much as 8 feet per second. They don’t pull people under the water — they pull people away from shore.

They are dangerous because when people are swiftly pulled away from shore to deeper water, they often panic or fight it, leading to drowning. Even strong swimmers can be swept out. They account for 80 percent of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards.

What are some signs that a rip current may be present? 

- A channel of churning, choppy water

- A difference in water color 

- A line of foam, seaweed or debris moving seaward.

What if I’m caught in a rip current?

- If you feel in trouble, draw attention to yourself: face the shore, call or wave for help.

- Stay calm and don’t fight the current. 

- Escape by swimming in a direction parallel to the shoreline, If you are unable to escape by swimming, float or tread water. When free of the current, swim at an angle away from the current toward the shore.

How do I help someone else?

- Don’t become a victim while trying to help someone else! Many people have died in efforts to rescue rip current victims.

- Get help from a lifeguard. If no lifeguard is present, yell instructions on how to escape.

- If possible, throw the victim something that floats, and call for emergency assistance.

‘Reach, Throw, Row, Go’

- Reach — using a long poll or stick; make sure you are on a firm surface, lie down to limit being pulled in.  

- Throw — a flotation device for the person to grab, if a rope is attached, and safely pull the person in. 

- Row — if near a boat or kayak and the person is too far to reach or throw. As you get close, throw a flotation device.

- Go — swimming should be the last resort. Drowning victims often thrash wildly and pose hazards to their rescuers. They may attempt to climb the rescuer, bringing you underwater. Only trained people should attempt, if available bring a flotation device 

Water quality complications

There is a difference between salt water and fresh water in near drowning situations. When taken into the lungs, all water has the effect of washing out surfactant, the thin coating inside of the lungs. That loss creates breathing problems and can lead to pulmonary edema, or ARDS, acute respiratory distress syndrome. Signs and symptoms include shortness of breath and wheezing. Because of its high salt content, seawater can affect the body differently from fresh water. Even if you think you have removed all the seawater from the lungs following, salt may still remain. In the body, water follows salt and the lungs will start to fill with water and swell. This can happen at anytime afterwards.

Freshwater has many contaminants and can also lead to infections in the lungs, while treated water from a pool can damage the lungs from the chemicals and solutions in the water.