Simple Ways to Prevent Injuries and Drownings

Even more common than illness as an aftermath of swimming are injuries and drowning. Yet swimmers and their guardians can easily prevent an overwhelming majority of these accidents and tragedies.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, more than 200,000 swimming-related injuries require medical treatment each year. And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that each day about 10 people die from unintentional drowning (not counting boating accidents), two of whom are children younger than 15. Drowning is the second most common cause of injury death among children under age 14.

Indicative of their propensity for risk-taking, nearly 80 percent of drowning victims are male.

The list of preventives starts with the obvious. Learn how to swim, preferably at an early age (3 or 4), though it is never too late.

If you have a private pool, make sure it is properly fenced and secured with a lock to keep out young children and uninvited guests. Make sure the pool has depth markers, and keep rescue equipment at poolside.

Never swim alone — always have a buddy who is an experienced swimmer — and swim only in supervised areas. Inexperienced swimmers should wear life jackets in the water and not depend on air-filled swimming aids. These can deflate at any time or, in some cases, float away and leave a weak swimmer stranded.

Children must be closely supervised in and around water by an adult who is a good swimmer. Teach children never to cry wolf, never to pretend they are drowning, lest they be ignored if they really get into trouble.

Never dive into shallow or murky water or where conditions on the bottom are unknown. Don’t swim in a river unless you are a strong swimmer and familiar with the currents. Avoid river swimming after a storm, when the current may be a lot stronger and new hidden obstacles may be present.

Stay out of the water during an electric storm in the area; lightning can travel through water for up to a mile.

At the beach, check with the lifeguard before going in the water to find out the water temperature, how strong the waves are, and whether there is a strong undertow or current. Swimming in very cold water can shock your body and impair muscle movements, making it harder to swim.

The United States Lifesaving Association reports that 80 percent of rescues by ocean lifeguards involve people caught in rip currents that circulate water back to sea after it reaches the shore. Avoid swimming where there are rip currents; if you should get caught in one, swim parallel to the shore until the pull of the current stops. Alternatively, tread water and wave for assistance. Stay at least 100 feet from piers and jetties, where rip currents are more likely to occur.

Drinking and swimming is as dangerous as drinking and driving. Don’t do it.

And don’t swim in the dark, when you can easily lose track of where you are.

If, like me, you are a frequent lap swimmer, you can reduce the risk of shoulder injury by strengthening the muscles around the shoulders and in the upper back and taking a few minutes to warm up and stretch before getting into the water.

Even if you are an experienced swimmer, a few lessons to improve your technique can reduce the risk of repetitive stress injuries.

When swimming outdoors, protect yourself from sunburn. Use water-resistant sunscreen and reapply it after toweling off. Young children can be protected by special swim cover-ups, which are well worth their cost.

When swimming in natural waters, consider wearing something to protect your feet against injury from rocks, broken glass and other trash.

Finally, know your limits. Don’t swim on a dare or try to swim where you are unsure of your ability or safety just because someone else is doing it.

JANE E. BRODY

A version of this article appeared in print on July 12, 2011, on page D7 of the New York edition with the headline: Simple Ways to Prevent Injuries and Drownings.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/12/health/12brodysb.html?_r=1

The story was taken from The New York Times at above stated URL.  The copyright remains with The New York Times, which is not involved, nor endorsed the production of this blog.