by Mandy Howard
When the text about the drowning came through, I was at our Raleigh neighborhood pool with my kids.
My brother was in Michigan, at our family lake house, the same place I spent every summer of my childhood. “Something happened. We don’t know a lot. They were out on the boat. Thomas went underwater and didn’t come back up. They’re looking for him. It doesn’t look good.”
You’re probably thinking that Thomas was a child. He wasn’t. He was my little brother’s best friend growing up in the cottage next door. He was my bonus little brother. And when he lost his life, his last act was ensuring that his daughter was safely back on the tube behind the boat.
Thomas was a strong swimmer and grew up on a lake. He was out with his family; no alcohol was involved. If he had been wearing a life jacket, his family wouldn’t have had to go through the devastation of saying goodbye.
According to stopdrowningnow.org, an average of 4,000 people drown in the United States per year. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1–4 and is the second cause of unintentional injury-related death for ages 5–15. It does not discriminate by age or body of water. This summer, when you visit your favorite aquatic destination, keep your family safe by following these valuable tips.
AT THE OCEAN
Sam Proffitt is the ocean director for the Town of Wrightsville Beach in North Carolina. He oversees ocean rescue and emergency medical services for the Wrightsville Beach Fire Department. He says that each summer his department handles approximately 200–300 ocean rescues. He offers this advice to avoid dangerous situations.
Swim where the lifeguards are.
Wrightsville Beach has 14 staffed lifeguard stands and multiple roaming employee lifeguards, who are trained to identify hazards— including rip currents, aquatic wildlife and impending storms—before they become dangerous. Seek out lifeguard stands and swim nearby.
Research the beach you’re going to and the meanings behind the warning flags.
Proffitt realizes that, for most people, enjoying the beach and an ocean swim is not a daily opportunity. He understands the temptation to “just hop in” despite warning flags, which range from yellow (indicating moderate hazards) to red (indicating dangerous conditions).
“People may drive here from Raleigh because it’s a beautiful day, but they don’t check the swell, they don’t check the beach report,” he says. “They drive all the way down here, and [the water] ‘looks nice.’ They don’t want that drive to go to waste, so they get in the water … next thing you know they’re the ones we’re rescuing.”
Proffitt adds that they don’t change the warning flag colors lightly. “If we are flying a red flag, it is extremely dangerous. Do not get in the water.”
Understand rip currents.
People get in trouble because they haven’t experienced a rip current, which is a powerful, narrow channel of fast-moving water. Proffitt explains, “Rip currents are not undertow, and they’re not some unicorn that’s going to pull you under. It’s only a channel of water that’s going out to sea. When it gets to deeper water, the intensity will dissipate.”
If you find yourself in the ocean and feel like you are being swept away from the beach, follow these tips:
- Do not panic.
- Stay afloat. Swim parallel to the beach and tread water, conserving energy.
- Do not try to fight the current and swim directly back to the beach.
- When the current lessens, swim at an angle away from the current, toward the shore.
AT THE LAKE
Wear a life jacket.
No matter how strong a swimmer you are, wear a life jacket—on a tube behind a boat, on a paddle board or in a kayak. On a boat, ensure you have a life jacket for every rider, and make sure kids wear theirs at all times. The United States Coast Guard requires that children under 13 years of age to wear a Coast Guard- approved personal floatation device. Avoid a possible fine and keep your family safe.
Review boat safety.
Depending on your boat and activities, go through the rules before you head out on the water. Remember to never swim near a boat while its motor is running. Cut the engine every time someone is swimming near a boat. Boaterkids.com offers boat safety advice and ways to childproof your boat.
Strengthen the swimming skills of your whole family.
No one is ever too old for a lesson. Share the gift of swimming with your kids. If you’re a lake swimmer, consider an annual, beginning-of-summer challenge to see who can tread water the longest. While swimming skills do not guarantee safety, it is a vital proactive step.
IN THE POOL
More drownings happen in residential pools than in commercial pools because while adults may be present, they may not know what to look for. Consider these tips before swimming in any pool:
Listen to lifeguards.
This tip is obviously for commercial pools, but it also extends to parents who may visit, or own, a residential pool. Understand the common rules at pools and mimic them at home, including:
• No running on pool decks
• No solo or unsupervised swimming
• Take scheduled, mandatory breaks (to reapply sunscreen and avoid exhaustion).
Drowning happens so often because it is eerily quiet. It has been described as someone trying to climb an invisible ladder. The head will be tilted back, eyes open, looking at the pool ledge, mouth at the water line. The arms and hands will be underwater while the feet pedal, as though trying to push down on a platform that is not there. The overall effect looks like someone calmly and silently bobbing up and down but not moving forward or backward. If you suspect you see this motion, do not hesitate. Go to that person immediately and assist them with a flotation device or get them to the edge of the pool.
Be vigilant, always. Drowning is silent and fast. Keep your eyes on the water, even if you’re talking with friends.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
Proffitt emphasizes, “Take CPR because whether it’s a drowning or a cardiac arrest event in your local parking lot, bystander CPR is what saves lives.” The American Red Cross, American Heart Association and other organizations offer training on this lifesaving skill.
Know your limitations.
Whether it’s exhaustion, heat or possibly that beverage in your hand, know that even the strongest swimmers struggle if they are incapacitated for any reason.
Each year since Thomas’ death, I’ve offered to write an article on water safety or talk about it to groups of students. And yet, last summer I looked up to see my own kids paddle boarding deep on the lake without life jackets. I immediately called them in and righted the situation. But all drowning takes is just a moment. Through awareness, education and diligence, you can keep your family safe around all bodies of water.