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Jul 9, 2008 3:49 pm US/Central
Tips To Stay Safe While Keeping Cool In The Water
NORTH TEXAS (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
During the 4th of July weekend t
he Texas Parks and Wildlife Department reported at least 14 drownings in the state - half of those were in North Texas.
The recent water-related deaths have some on high alert. But there are steps and precautions that can be taken to keep families safe.
Game Warden Ron Vanderrost asks people to remember that "there are very few areas that have lifeguards on the lake." For that reason, he said extra caution is needed when swimming in lake waters.
"Some of these swim beach areas may seem three to four feet shallow at one time. However, they may drop off to six to ten feet," Vanderrost said.
Vanderrost said even good swimmers should wear life jackets on the lake and have a buddy with them.
"When lake traffic picks up on these high volume weekends, you have lots of boat chop and waves and wakes that can come in the swim area that can overtake someone very easily," said Vanderrost. "It only takes seconds for a person to drown."
Vanderrost also said people need to remember the lake is not a predictable swimming pool.
Experts also advise lake goers to watch children around the water and to know their limitations. The Red Cross advises people to "take a break at the point of being too tired, too cold, or too far from safety, too much sun, too little hydration, too much strenuous activity."
Avoiding alcohol is among the top boating safety tips from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. They also recommend the following safety tips:
- Wear a life jacket - mandatory for children under 13-years-old
- Watch out for low water areas and submerged objects
- Do not overloaded your boat
- Be especially careful on personal watercraft
MORE FROM THE TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE DEPARTMENT:Practical advice from water rescue experts includes the steps, "reach, throw, then row."
The first step is to use a rope, tree branch or other object to try to reach the swimmer from shore.
The next step is to throw something buoyant such as a life jacket, inner tube, floating raft or a plastic foam ice chest.
If the first two steps fail, put on a life jacket and row out to the swimmer with a boat or a raft. Never reach for a drowning person with your own body, as the person in trouble can quickly drag you under in a panic
"It's essential that you first try to help the swimmer using the reach, throw, and row method. If those steps don't work and you must go into the water because there is no other option, it's essential that you wear a life jacket, take a flotation device for the swimmer, and call for help or alert someone before you head into the water," said Brandi Bradford, TPWD boater education coordinator.
MORE LIFESAVING STEPS FROM THE RED CROSS: Know CPR: If your children are going to be around water, ensure that you know how to perform CPR in case of an emergency. If a relative or friend is watching your child, be sure they know CPR too.
Know how to swim: Enroll your child in a Learn to Swim class today. Contact the city where your family lives and ask for a course schedule, or contact your local American Red Cross office for assistance. Infants to Adults can enroll in Learn to Swim classes.
Never Swim Alone: No one, including adults, should ever swim alone. Adults should practice "reach supervision" which means to be within arm's length of a child in case an emergency occurs.
Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by the residential pool and know how to use it. A first aid kit, cordless phone, phone list with emergency contact information, reaching pole and ring buoy with a line attached are recommended.
In addition, the Red Cross recommends that pools be surrounded on all sides by a fence that is at least four feet high. It should not provide any footholds, which would allow a child to climb over or spacing to climb through. The fence should have a self-closing, self-locking gate locks when the pool is not in use.
Pack a "safety" bag for a day at the beach or lake. Water-proof sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, water shoes to keep feet safe from the heat and sharp objects on land and plenty of water are musts. All containers should be plastic to prevent injuries from breaking glass. Also, a hat and sunglasses keep eyes safe from dangerous UV rays.
Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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