Summer Swims a Serious Safety Issue

First posted on 07-17-2009

Elizabeth Fortune, Extension Communications Specialist

For children, there’s nothing better than splash time at the lake or pool, but for parents, it should be serious business, according to Shannon Caldwell, 4-H camping coordinator for the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control, more than 3,500 people drown each year in the United States and more than a quarter of those victims were children under 14.

Parents with young children need to be especially alert.

“There’s no substitute for diligent adult supervision,” Caldwell said. “Children should swim in an area close to the lifeguard and remember, the lifeguard’s job is to prevent and respond to water emergencies, not babysit your child.”

Parents also need to remember that pool toys are just that: toys and not safety devices. This includes “noodles,” inflatable rings, water wings and ride-on toys and rafts.

“If you have an inexperienced swimmer in your family, make sure he or she wears a Coast Guard-approved life jacket that is appropriate for their size,” she said. “And stay within an arm’s reach in case he or she needs help.”

Culverts and ditches are also dangerous. A heavy rain can quickly turn culverts and ditches into death traps.

“Children can easily underestimate the speed and strength of such a flow and be overpowered and swept downstream,” Caldwell said.

Caldwell advises swimmers to be sure to take rest breaks, steer away from water that’s too cold, stay close to the lifeguard and always swim with a buddy.

The Cooperative Extension Service is part of the University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture.