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Lake and Ocean Safety

Some summertime water fun may include going to a beach or a lake. You should take every precaution possible to make this a fun-filled day without any repercussions or injuries. To do this, follow the safety guidelines below to prevent unforeseen accidents from happening:

Beach Safety

• Only swim in designated areas—
While it may seem like it would be okay to just jump in the water anywhere, it’s really not. There’s a reason that there are designated swimming beach areas, and the biggest reason is safety. There are known to be less sharks and other dangerous sea animals in these areas, and there are lifeguards on duty to help watch for any problems.

• Rip-tide safety—
80% of rescues are necessary because people get caught in a riptide. Teach your children how to get out of this safely if they get caught up in it. They should not swim directly toward shore, and should instead swim parallel to the shore until they get out of it, and then turn and head toward shore.

• Swimming shoes—
To avoid jellyfish stings and other problems, it is best to have your child wear swimming shoes that can protect them.

• Don’t rely on floaties—
This is the one bad thing about using floaties for children. Parents tend to get a false sense of security with them, and children can slide out of them or flip upside down and not be able to turn back over. There is nothing wrong with using floaties for your child, but you still should keep an eye on them at all times.

• Same rules as a pool—
Your child should follow all posted rules or be forced to get out of the water, and you shouldn’t rely on the lifeguards to save your child in an emergency. You should keep an eye on your child at all times.

Lake safety

• Swimming shoes—
You should, just as with the ocean, always have your child wear swimming shoes. With the lake, though, it’s more due to broken bottles and things of that nature on the bottom than it is from animals.

• No swimming with open wounds—
If your child has a scrape or cut, you should not let them swim in lake water. These waters are known for carrying bacteria and an open wound is the perfect place for them to settle. This can lead to impetigo or a staph infection.

• Don’t let them walk out on their own—
Lakes have drop-offs, meaning that, while your child seems fine standing in waist high water, the lake could literally drop off at any step and be 60 feet deep. Since the water is so dark, it is nearly impossible to tell where the drop-offs are, so you should never let your child walk out in the water alone.

• Watch out for snakes—
If you see a snake anywhere, you should have your children get out of the water and stay out for at least a while or until you see the snake leave. Most snakes that live in the water are extremely poisonous, so it is nothing you should chance.

• Pool and beach rules—
Many of the same rules will apply to swimming in a lake or river as they do in the ocean or pool. Just be sure to keep a close eye on your child at all times and make the swim as fun as possible while still being careful.

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