water safety

Summer Fun in the Sun

young girl swimming with beach hat and life vestIt is that time of year when everyone starts to get serious about their outdoor time. Gardens are going in, school sports are wrapping up, summer leagues are going strong, pools are getting ready to open, and everyone is planning their summer vacation or camp time. With all these things going on, being safe in the sun may get away from you. Here are a few tips to make sure everyone has an amazing, and safe, summer.

  • Wear SPF (Sun Protection Factor) 30 – 50 waterproof sunscreens that you reapply every hour and a half to 2 hours. Look for mineral formulas that include the ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide for better coverage that is also good for the environment. Don’t forget to check the expiration date on bottles. Coverage will be much better. For optimum protection, generously apply sunscreen 15 – 30 minutes before you head outside. An adult should use approximately 1 ounce of sunscreen (a shot glass full), on the first application, so your family should go through a bottle every day or 2 if you are doing a beach vacation.
  • Wear a hat with a brim all the way around, preferably a 3-brim. This beach or bucket style hat will protect your face, ears, and neck from sun exposure.
  • Consider getting UPF (Ultraviolet Protection Factor) clothing for swimming, tennis, golf, fishing, and even hunting. Again, look for 30+ for better coverage.
  • Seek shade under umbrellas, canopies, pop-up shelters for little ones, and playgrounds with sun sails, or just lots of shade from trees.
  • Stay hydrated by drinking about 8-ounces of water for every 30 minutes of outdoor work, exercise, yard work, or even beach time on warm days. Do not drink more than 1 liter per hour (about 4 cups). As excessive water can cause hyponatremia or water intoxication, which can have serious consequences.
  • graphic showing colors of swimsuits under waterWear neon swimsuits, shirts, rash guards, and life vests for much better visibility in the water. Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 – 4 in the United States, so swim lessons, adult supervision, following posted guidelines, and water barriers are very important. Check out the images from ALIVE Solutions study of swim wear colors in open water and pools, it s very scary that many colors disappear under water.

Following these tips will keep your family, friends, and co-workers safe and allow everyone to have “Fun in the Sun”.

Written By: Lisa Barlage, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Ross County.

Reviewed By: Alisha Barton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Miami County and Ken Stewart, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Ohio State University Extension, Monroe County.

Water Safety Tips: Swimming & Boating in the Great Outdoors

One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to be on, in, or around the water. Last summer, I wrote about being water-safe, including how to be water-competent. Being water-competent is understanding the importance of having a plan, knowing your skills and limitations, and having the ability to help others. This summer, I wanted to talk about swimming and boating in a natural water source like a river, lake, or ocean. There are significant differences between swimming in a pool environment and swimming in a natural environment.

The natural environment causes some additional challenges and requires extra knowledge and skills. Often, water in a river, lake, or ocean causes limited or no visibility, which makes it difficult to see hazards, including changes in water depth. Water in the natural environment is unpredictable; from unexpected temperature changes to currents, waves, and rapids to vegetation and wildlife, many obstacles happen suddenly and without warning. Additionally, there is often mixed traffic on the water from other swimmers, people paddling, speed boats, and even people fishing from either the boat or the shore.

three kids in life jackets jumping into a lake from a boat

The American Red Cross gives these basic safety tips while swimming in a natural water environment:

  • Enter water feet first.
  • Do not enter water of unknown depth from a height.
  • Never swim alone.
  • Designate supervision
  • Swim sober and without distractions.

The water and environment can change rapidly and without warning; this includes currents moving objects into your area or making it difficult to swim. It is important to designate a “water watcher(s)” to supervise swimming who is willing to remain sober and eliminate distractions such as long conversations and cell phones. Water visibility is limited, so it is important to notice if someone is struggling before they slip below the surface.

There are many types of boats. Boats with engines and boats without. Boats can have various lengths and may have enclosed areas. Each boat has different limitations, numbers, and weight capacities.

Here are a few considerations every time you are on the water, regardless of the size of the boat.

  • Always wear a life jacket – Don’t just pack it; wear your jacket.
    • Know the laws; in Ohio, everyone must wear a life jacket while riding a personal watercraft, such as a jet ski, while water skiing or being towed. Further, everyone under 10 must wear a life jacket on vessels under 18 feet. All boats (including kayaks and canoes) must have an appropriate life jacket for each person on board; the life jacket should be easily accessible and not stored in a sealed or locked container. Boats over 16 feet must also have a throwable flotation device.
  • Know what type of water you are boating on and possible currents, rapids, and depths.
  • Weather impacts: if it has rained recently, the rivers and creeks may be fuller and moving faster than before; cold water can cause hypothermia and any potential incoming weather for your day on the water.
  • Even if you do not plan to swim, you should always have a plan for a water emergency or what to do if someone enters the water.

I’ve been swimming for as long as I’ve been able to walk, and I still wear a life jacket when out kayaking. I often say that if I enter the water while kayaking, it isn’t by choice, which means I may need my life jacket because the situation is out of my control. There are no do-overs when it comes to water safety. Invest in a comfortable, well-fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket.

a small dog in a life jacket
Binny at the Lake

The water is a great source of fun, a place to make memories and cool off on a hot summer day, but make sure before you and your family head out on the water that you have a plan, designate a water watcher(s) who will commit to eliminating distractions, create a list family swimming rules,  pair up with a swim buddy of similar ability, and always remember to bring your life jacket.

References:
American Red Cross. Swimming safely in lakes, rivers, & streams. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/lake-river-safety.html
American Red Cross. Know about boating before you go floating. https://www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PDFs/Take_a_Class/Know_about_boating_before_you_go_floating.pdf
Be Water Safe this Summer. https://livehealthyosu.com/2023/05/23/be-water-safe-this-summer/
Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Life jacket facts. https://ohiodnr.gov/discover-and-learn/safety-conservation/recreational-safety/life-jacket-facts
U.S. Coast Guard. Life jacket wear/Wearing your life jacket. Boat Responsibly. https://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php

Written by: Laura Halladay, Family and Consumer Sciences Program Specialist, Ohio State University Extension.
Reviewed by: Kate Shumaker, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Holmes County

Be Water Safe this Summer

underwater photography of young friends swimming.

Summer is upon us: trips to the pool, or lake, vacations to the beach, or water sports adventures. Family time at the pool or on the water can create lasting memories. But did you know that no matter how well someone can swim, no one is ever “drown-proof”?  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4 and is the second leading cause of unintentional death in ages 5 to 14.

            Water competency is essential to improve water safety by avoiding dangers, developing water safety skills, and knowing how to prevent and respond to drowning emergencies. Water competency includes (1) being water smart, (2) swimming skills, and (3) helping others. All of us need to be water smart any time we are around water, even if we do not plan to go for a swim. This includes knowing your limitations, never swimming alone, wearing a life jacket, understanding unique water environments, and swimming sober. Learning to perform these five swimming skills in every type of water environment can help save a life:

  1. Enter water that is over your head and calmly return to the surface
  2. Float or tread water for at least one minute
  3. Turn over or turn around in the water
  4. Swim at least 25 yards
  5. Be able to exit the water

Help others: This means, paying close attention to children or weak swimmers, knowing the signs of drowning, learning to safely assist a drowning person, such as “reach or throw, don’t go,” and knowing CPR and first aid.

Movies and television make us believe that drowning is splashy and loud. Unfortunately, it’s the opposite; someone could be drowning a few feet away, and you would not know it; drowning is often silent. It’s important to learn the seven warning signs that someone is drowning.

Consider these ideas to be safe around water this summer:

  • Designate an adult to be a water watcher – eliminate distractions such as long conversations, cell phone usage, or reading.
  • Create family swim rules and utilize swim buddies of similar age and skill.
  • Utilize U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets.
Children learning to swim with instructor

Learning to swim is one of the best ways to help your family and make everyone safer around the water. Summer is a great time to find swim lessons in your community; check out your local Red Cross, YMCA, parks and recreation centers, swim clubs, and swim teams for affordable swim lessons in your area.

References:

American Red Cross. (n.d.-d). Water safety. https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety.html

Drowning facts. (2022, March 10). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/drowning/facts/index.html

Talks, R. C. (n.d.). What does drowning sound and look like? https://www.redcross.ca/blog/2019/6/what-does-drowning-sound-and-look-like

U.S. Coast Guard. (n.d.). Life jacket wear/Wearing your life jacket. Boat Responsibly. https://www.uscgboating.org/recreational-boaters/life-jacket-wear-wearing-your-life-jacket.php

Photo Credit:

Children swimming underwater: Adobe Stock (418941209)

Children learning to swim with instructor: Adobe Stock (28261075)

Written by: Laura Halladay, Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Greene County.

Reviewed by: Laura Stanton Family and Consumer Sciences Educator, Ohio State University Extension, Warren County.