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Health & Fitness

Water Safety Tips

Most of us picture “drowning” as someone flailing in the water while crying out for help, so we believe that we will hear a struggle and act in time to avoid a disaster.

But in reality, drowning is a silent event. A drowning person is focused on getting air and keeping her head out of the water. Small children, who are top-heavy, can topple into a water bucket or slip into the pool without a sound.

The best protection is prevention. Most importantly, learn to swim and enroll your family members in swim lessons. Everyone can learn to swim. Other ways to stay safe:
• Never swim alone, even if you’re good at it.
• Never leave children unattended in or around the water.
• If you own a pool, enclose it on all sides; secure and lock gates and fences.
• Hire a lifeguard or designate a pool watcher for pool parties. Adults can take turns actively watching. (No talking, eating or socializing while on watch.)
• Always swim near a lifeguard at the beach
• Learn about rip-current safety. When in doubt, don’t go out.
• Take a CPR course to learn what to do in an emergency.

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Water sports and safety are a great combination for refreshing summer fun. Fill your summer with cool, happy memories by planning for safety first.

This post was written by Catherine Blotiau, health educator at the North Shore-LIJ Health System.

For more North Shore-LIJ Health Blog posts, go to http://blog.northshorelij.com/ 

Contents of the health blog are the property of North Shore-LIJ Health System and are provided as a health resource for consumers, health care professionals and members of the media. The medical content on the North Shore-LIJ Health Blog is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for consultation with your physician regarding diagnosis, treatment or any other form of specific medical advice. These materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "North Shore-LIJ Health System," "North Shore-LIJ," "northshorelij.com," "VivoHealth," their related entities and logos are trademarks of the North Shore-LIJ Health System. Copyright © 2011 North Shore-LIJ Health System. All rights reserved.

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