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Home > Consumer Focus Archive > Water Safety For Swimmers
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Consumer Focus: Water Safety
This is an archived document.
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Water Safety For Swimmers

Image of a man floating in an inner tub toasting a fun drink.Summer is finally here and with it long hot days are upon us. So, back at the FCIC our thoughts have turned to cooling off by going for a swim. Swimming can be a great way to have fun while getting full body exercise. But, you always have to remember that each year between 4,000 and 6,000 people drown in the United States. It is the second leading cause of accidental deaths for persons 15 to 44 years old. Shockingly, it is believed that two-thirds of the people who drown are believed to never have had any intention of being in the water. Since tragic water accidents happen quickly, we have come up with the following information to help everyone have a safe and fun summer.

Posted: June 1, 2004

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Image of a girl splashing water on a boy in a pool.Swimming Safety Tips

By keeping these few simple things in mind, you can make your experience in the water much safer.

  • Learn to swim before you go into the water. Sounds silly, but many people think it will come naturally, and it really doesn’t.
  • Swim near a lifeguard so help is available if you need it
  • Never swim alone
  • Supervise children closely, even when lifeguards are present
  • Don't rely on flotation devices, such as rafts, you may lose them in the water
  • Alcohol and swimming don't mix
  • Protect your head, neck, and spine by jumping feet first into unfamiliar waters
  • As soon as you believe that you may be in trouble, call or wave for help
  • Follow regulations and lifeguard directions
  • Swim parallel to shore if you wish to swim long distances

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Keeping Children Safe

Image of a father and 2 sons floating with an inner tube.

Swimming and playing near water are favorite summer time activities of children everywhere. So parents and guardians need to pay extra attention and make sure they protect little ones from the dangers that water presents. Here are some points to consider about water safety for children.

  • Never leave a child alone near water. Accidents happen in seconds, so if you have to leave, take your child with you.
  • Watch out for neighborhood pools. Whether it is your own or your neighbors, toys that are left around the pool can attract children to the water.
  • If you have a pool, make sure you surround it by a fence that is tall enough that children cannot climb over, and with a gate that locks.
  • Enroll children over age three in swimming lessons taught by qualified instructors. Lessons won't make your child "drown-proof," but they will increase their safety and prepare them for a lifetime of fun in the water.
  • Teach your children to always swim with a buddy.
  • And always have a first-aid kit and emergency phone contacts handy. Parents should be trained in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).

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Rip Current

Rip currents are the most dangerous natural hazard along our beaches. They often occur where waves are breaking on weaker parts of the ocean floor (where sand has eroded away), or near permanent structures like jetties. When waves hit the beach they are forced seaward through the weak part of the ocean floor, which can be a few feet wide or the length of the beach. They become dangerous because they often carry people out past the breaking waves, causing panic when swimmers realize how far away from the beach they are, and understand that they cannot swim strong enough to fight the current. While Rip currents can be scary all swimmers need to remember is to swim horizontally along the beach. Don’t try to swim straight back to the beach, swim along it until you are out of the rip current and then head back to the beach. If you start to tire, or worry about your safety, wave to the lifeguard and they will swim out and help you. When you get back to the beach, spread the word about the rip current. Young children who are caught in rip currents are much more likely to panic than adults.
Image of the flow of a rip current.

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Programs that Teach Water Safety

Image of a boy running with an inner tube.With all of the dangers associated with fun in the water, we are all fortunate that there is a wealth of information available about water safety. Government agencies like the US Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers and not-for-profits like the National Safety Council and the American Red Cross have websites designed to teach young people and old how to be safe while enjoying the water. Two children specific sites worth visiting are Bobber's. Local community pools, lakes, and beach areas may offer information about safety and swimming lessons.

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Other Resources

This is just a brief overview. For more information, check out these resources:

Read these publications online or order them from FCIC:

Websites*:

* Names of resources and organizations included in this online article are provided as examples only, and their inclusion does not mean that they are endorsed by the Federal Citizen Information Center or any other Government agency. Also, if a particular resource or organization is not mentioned, this does not mean or imply that it is unsatisfactory.

*If you click on these links, you are leaving FCIC's website. Please bookmark us before you leave so you can return easily. FCIC is not responsible for the content of these websites.

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