Memorial Day is upon us. For decades, the Memorial Day holiday has marked the unofficial but very real start of summer. Memorial Day 2021 is even more significant as the date is also something of a milestone that signifies what appears to be an end to the real challenges of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States. The holiday marks a widespread return to pools and beaches as well. With all of this in mind, a refresher on the 10 primary rules of swimming safely is important. These 10 rules are:
- Never swim alone
- Don’t drink alcohol and swim
- Don’t eat immediately before hitting the water
- Never allow a child to go near water unsupervised
- Maintain appropriate lifesaving and emergency gear near a pool
- Make sure pool area properly is secured
- Avoid contact with pool drains
- Keep glass away from pool area
- Make certain pool is maintained properly
- Don’t enter water when tired or fatigued
Never Swim Alone
The idea of a nice, quiet swim alone in a tranquil pool certainly has appeal on the surface. Nonetheless, every year people die as the result of drowning accidents that could have been avoided if they were not alone in the water at the time of an incident or event of some sort. Thus, a primary swimming rule is to never swim alone. If you’re in a large public setting, have a swimming or pool partner.
Don’t Drink Alcohol and Swim
The admonition about not drinking alcohol before or while swimming is repeated time and time again, year after year. With that said, alcohol consumption before or while swimming has been and remains a major underlying cause of drowning, injury, and death. The simple rule is: Never drink alcohol and swim, never drink alcohol and engage in any aquatic activities.
Don’t Eat Immediately before Hitting the Water
Your parents said it and it bears repeating here: Do not eat directly before entering the water. Wait between 20 to 30 minutes after eating before getting into a pool or entering any other body of water.
Never Allow a Child to Go Near Water Unsupervised
Never, never – never – permit a child to go anywhere near water unsupervised. A child can fatally drown in even very shallow water within a matter of a few minutes. An adult designated to supervise a child around or in water must do precisely that. His or her attention must remain focused on that child at all times.
Maintain Appropriate Lifesaving and Emergency Gear Near a Pool
Keep appropriate lifesaving and emergency gear, in good condition, near a pool. This includes reaching and grabbing devices, life jackets, a comprehensive first aid kit, and a well-charged mobile phone.
Make Sure Pool Area Properly is Secured
If you own or are responsible for a pool, a primary rule of swimming safety is ensuring that it is properly and comprehensively secured when not in use. This includes a tall, unscalable fence and an alarmed gate.
Avoid Contact with Pool Drains
Yet another vital swimming safety rule is to keep away from pool drains. You also must make certain that pool drain coverings are properly secure and in good condition. With alarming frequency, people (particularly children) get their limbs stuck in pool drains, which can have devastating and even fatal consequences.
Keep Glass Away from Pool Area
Never bring glass objects into a pool area. Broken glass presents very real risks. This includes not only the possibility of sever cuts but infection as well.
Make Certain Pool is Maintained Properly
Pool related injuries can be avoid by ensuring proper maintenance occurs. This includes keep a pool in good repair and ensuring that chemicals are utilized regularly and properly.
Don’t Enter Water when Tired or Fatigued
A final swimming rule to bear in mind is to never enter the water if you feel tired or fatigued. Fatigued swimming is a significant cause of injury and death in the United States.
As a result of the pandemic throughout 2020 and into the earlier part of 2021, continuing lifeguard training courses were cancelled in many instances. While this occurred through no fault of specific lifeguards, bear in mind that some lifeguards may be awaiting refresher training even as you begin to enjoy swimming and other aquatic recreational activities.
Similarly, many pools were “dormant” (or mostly out of use) for a good part of the past year or more. Thus, there may be some yet to be discovered dangers associated with some pools, including those at public recreational locations, hotels, resorts, and even at private residences.
With all of this in mind, if you or a loved one are injured in a drowning accident or some other type of aquatic accident, the experienced legal team at The Doan Law Firm is here for you. You can connect with a drowning accident lawyer or aquatic accident attorney from our firm 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by calling us at (800) 349-0000. There is never a charge for an initial consultation and case evaluation with a Doan Law Firm swimming accident lawyer or aquatic accident lawyer. Our hotline is staffed on all major holidays as well, including Memorial Day.
The Doan Law Firm never charges a fee unless we win your case for you.
