The Wellness Center's Blog

Summer Water Safety Tips

By: Dexter Wellness Center Staff

August 4, 2023, 10:00 am - Categories: News

It’s time for some summer fun in the sun. One of the most popular summer activities is to hang out near the water. This is why it’s so important to familiarize yourself, your family, and friends each summer season with the importance of water safety. According to the American Red Cross:

“A child or weak swimmer can drown in the time it takes to reply to a text, check a fishing line or apply sunscreen. Death and injury from drownings happen every day in home pools and hot tubs, at the beach or in oceans, lakes, rivers and streams, bathtubs, and even buckets.”

Water safety includes supervision, swimming skills and safety training. Here are some key tips to remember when you and your loved ones plan to be in close proximity to any body of water.

American Red Cross recommendations:

• Know your limitations, including physical fitness, medical conditions.
• Never swim alone; swim with lifeguards and/or water watchers present.
• Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket appropriate for your weight and size and water activity. Always wear a life jacket while boating, regardless of swimming skill.
• Know how to call for help.
• Understand and adjust for the unique risks of the water environment you are in.
• Pay close attention to children or weak swimmers you are supervising in or near water.
• Teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Know the signs that someone is drowning.
• Know CPR and first aid.

Interested in Aquatic programs?

Swimming lessons are available at our facility for members and non-members. Whether you need to learn the fundamentals of swimming or put the finishing touches on your strokes, swim lessons can benefit anyone. Plus, we offer group exercise classes in our aquatics area to add variety to your workout. Water classes are a great muscle conditioning workout with reduced impact on your joints.

Fall lifeguard classes are coming soon! Please contact the Member Services desk for more information.

REFERENCE: https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety.html