The waters are fine; let's have a great time!

  • Published
  • By Ground Safety
  • Air Force Flight Test Center
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  The heat has arrived and many Airmen, Department of Defense civilians and family members will be out enjoying fun in the sun and maybe head to the beach or lake. Tragic water-related accidents can happen quickly. The Air Force's "101 Critical Days of Summer" campaign provides some safety tips for those who may want to venture out into the water:

Learn to swim. But, swimming lessons alone are not enough for young children.  Be aware that the American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend swimming classes as the primary means of preventing drowning for children younger than four-years-old.

Constant and careful supervision, and barriers such as pool fencing, are necessary even after children have completed swimming classes.

Always swim with a buddy. Select swim sites that have lifeguards.

Avoid drinking alcohol before and after swimming, boating and water skiing.

Always use approved personal flotation devices (life jackets) when out in a boat.

Always have a first-aid kit and emergency phone numbers handy.

Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). In the time it might take for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills could make the difference between life and death. Studies show that CPR performed by bystanders improves the chances of survival for a drowning victim.

When in or around open waters, such as the ocean, be aware of rip currents. A rip current is an off-shore current that circulates water back to open waters after it's been pushed ashore.

Rip currents are the most threatening natural hazard along the coasts. They can pull victims away from shore. Try to avoid swimming where rip currents are present, but if caught in one, do not fight the current.  Swim parallel to the shore until out of the current.  Think of it like a treadmill that cannot be turned off, which you need to step to the side of.  When out of the current, swim at an angle -- away from the current -- towards the shore.