Swimming Safety (2024)

FAQs

What are the four key water safety messages? ›

Wear a life jacket for any aquatic activity such as boating or swimming. Life jackets can be borrowed for free at one of over 100 local life jacket loaner stations throughout the state.

Always swim with a buddy. Don't use alcohol or drugs (including certain prescription medications) before or while swimming, diving or supervising swimmers. Wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating or fishing, even if you don't intend to enter the water.

Normally for us, by the time children reach around 7-years-old and have been swimming for a few years, they can swim a width of a pool (around 10 metres) without any trouble. They enjoy swimming during lessons and in leisure time, and don't show signs of trouble in the water.

Obey Pool and Water Safety Rules

No running, eating, gum, or glass containers. Exit the pool at the first sign of thunderstorms or lightning. If there is no lifeguard or supervising adult, wait to swim.

A good rule of thumb to follow is the "120° rule." This means you should wear a wetsuit or dry suit whenever the sum of the air temperature and water temperature is equal to or less than 120°F.

Track swimmers in their zones.

As a guideline, try to assign each guard to an area that can be effectively scanned in 10 seconds and where victims can be reached in about 20 seconds.

Never swim alone. Swim only in designated areas and areas supervised by a lifeguard. Set up specific swimming rules for each member of your family or group based on swimming abilities. Closely supervise children in, on or around the water, even when a lifeguard is present.

Any time children are going to be near water, there are rules involved—wear sunscreen, walk/don't run, no pushing, etc. But here at the Y, there's one rule that outweighs all the others: Never get in the water without an adult's permission.

What is the safest way to swim? ›

Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards. Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Provide close and constant attention to children you are supervising, even when a lifeguard is present, no matter how well the child can swim or how shallow the water.

Before you go swimming alone, where possible it's worth informing someone you know beforehand of where you're going and also when you expect to return. Wherever you swim, however, you should always ensure you have warmed up your muscles first and that you're not swimming on a full stomach.

Avoid eating before swimming

And without this, they may become more prone to cramping or discomfort. Aim to eat a light meal or snack around one to two hours before your swim session. This timeframe allows for proper digestion while ensuring you have enough energy to perform at your best.

The 4 parts of the Water Safety Code are: • Spot the dangers. Take safety advice. Don't go alone. Learn how to help.

Stay Together, Stay Close

If you are out and about near water, it's always best to be accompanied by friends or relatives, and always inform someone you're close with to let them know where you are going and the time you expect to be back.

Learn to swim. Swim with a buddy. Wear your life jacket. Obey all hazard signs. Swim in safe or designated areas only and by a lifeguard.