Safety tips for Swimmers

Swimming is a fun summer activity for the whole family. However, despite how fun swimming is, you still need to be aware of the dangers it can pose. Before you head to the beach, the lake, or the pool, make sure you and your family know how to be safe while in the water. Here are some steps that will prevent serious injuries while swimming.

Thunderstorms: Summer thunderstorms often appear without warning, and they can be extremely dangerous for those caught outside. Thunderstorms are especially dangerous for swimmers as water conducts electricity. Look up the day’s weather forecast before you head out for the day. Get out of the water right away if you see dark clouds or hear thunder. Once out of the water, find a safe place where you can wait out the storm.

Swim in front of lifeguards: No matter where you are swimming, you should make sure that a lifeguard can see you at all times. At the beach, there will be flags that indicate which parts of the beach are safe to swim in. Never go swimming if a lifeguard is not on duty.

Riptide safety: Riptides can be extremely frightening and dangerous. Here is what you should do if you get caught in a riptide

- Do not Panic - Panicking will only exhaust yourself quicker. Instead, you should try to remain as calm as you can.

- Do not try to fight the current - You will not be able to escape the Riptide by swimming against it. You will only waste your energy.

- Wave your arms and yell for help to get the lifeguard's attention. Once they realize that you need help, they will come and rescue you

- Swim Parallel to the Shore - If you fail to get the lifeguard’s attention, try swimming parallel to the shore. Swim in either direction until you escape.

Look before you jump: Before you jump into a pool, you need to make sure that it is safe to do so. You need to make sure that you are not going to land on someone else. This can injure both of you. You also need to make sure that the water is deep enough for you before you jump. Many people have suffered a permanent injury or have died from hitting their heads and necks on the bottom of a pool. Pools will often have the depth recorded and displaced nearby. If you are unsure if a pool is deep enough, do not jump.

In addition to these water safety, you should also beware of swimming injuries. Here are some of the most common injuries that swimmers may experience