There are only a couple more days till the 4th of July! As we gear up for trips near the water, the Red Cross encourages adults to make water safety a priority this summer. A recent Red Cross survey found that 8 out of 10 Americans are planning water activities such as going to the beach, pool, water park, boating, or fishing this summer. A third of all Americans plan to swim at a place without a lifeguard. Families need to make sure that both adults and children have the knowledge and skills they need to be safe in and around the water.
“The Red Cross wants everyone to have fun this Fourth of July weekend, and we have several ways people can stay safe while enjoying their holiday,” said Angela A. Broome, regional chief executive officer for the American Red Cross Carolina Piedmont Region.
- Remember to check water and weather conditions before your trip and frequently during your stay.
- Watch for signs of severe weather and leave the water at the first indication of thunder and lightning.
- Be aware of the danger of rip currents. If caught in one, swim parallel to the shore until out of the current. When free, turn and swim toward shore. If unable to swim to the shore, call out for help, float or tread water until free of the rip current and then head toward shore.
- Always swim with a buddy and always swim sober.
- Swim only in areas that are designated for swimming with buoy and ropes and are supervised by lifeguards.
- Keep children under constant and active supervision and remain free from distractions.
- Young children and inexperience swimmers should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket.
- Everyone should enter the water feet first if they can’t see the bottom or don’t know how deep the water is.
- Limit the amount of direct sunlight received between 10:00am and 4:00pm, and wear a broad-spectrum sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15. Reapply often.
- Stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water regularly, even if not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.
Be sure to also download the FREE SWIM AND FIRST AID APPS by Red Cross.
Swim App users can learn water safety and drowning prevention information for a variety of aquatic environments. Children can have fun learning water safety tips with the child-friendly videos and quizzes in the app. The First Aid App puts expert advice for everyday emergencies at your fingertips. The apps are available for smart phones and tablets and can be downloaded from the Apple or Google Play for Android app stores. The Swim App is also available in the Amazon Kindle Store.