Officials Encourage Summer Water Safety

by Max Gotlieb
Healthcare Reporter

As summer approaches, many will begin swimming in pools, lakes, and the ocean. Swimming, a fun pastime, is enjoyable, yet extremely dangerous when proper precautions are not taken. Drowning is the fatal consequence of pool safety not being taken seriously.

According to the CDC, there is an average of 3,536 deaths as a result of unintentional drowning every year. Children aged 14 years and younger account for 1 of every 5 unintentional drowning deaths.

It is crucial to understand risk factors that contribute to drowning. These include swimming without the proper ability, lack of barriers around the body of water, lack of supervision, alcohol use, and preexisting medical conditions.

Meghan Holohan from Today.com writes, "For safer open water swimming the organization recommends teaching open water swimming, as well as pool swimming, and having a designated "watcher" who keeps an eye on swimmers the whole time they're in the water." She also suggests that the designated watcher should learn how to practice CPR and other lifesaving skills. It might even be necessary for all parents to be certified in CPR and have lifesaving skill credentials.

There are a number of ways to obtain these certifications, but the most popular two are in-person classes with an instructor demonstrating skills and online courses like those offered at www.CPRTrainingFast.com. Online courses, though, are convenient, time-saving, and inexpensive. Any concerned parent should be trained in CPR before they allow their children to swim.

For a designated watcher wanting to be certified in lifesaving skills, BCLS is a perfect option. Short for Basic Cardiac Life Support, the BCLS credential teaches CPR and techniques necessary to save lives. On a more advanced level, www.CPRTrainingFast.com offers credentials for ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support) and PALS (Pediatric Life Support), which prepare trainees to save lives in dire situations like unintentional drowning.