Summertime is a great time to take your kids out for swimming at the public beach. Swimming is regarded as one of the greatest forms of exercise for a good reason. It is one of the few exercises that is a workout for practically all the body’s major muscle groups, not to mention that it’s also plenty of fun. So, by all means, put on your swimsuits and take your kids out to the beach and swim your hearts out!

Despite being so much fun, swimming has some caveats though. Death by drowning is a very serious problem in the US. It ranks # 3 for the leading cause of accidental deaths in the country for people aged 5-45 years. For younger children in the 1-2 years age group, drowning is the #1 cause of accidental deaths. Males are about five times more likely to die through drowning than females. There is no question that our country is experiencing a death-by-drowning catastrophe. If you are planning to take your kids out for swimming, read the beach safety tips outlined below and be prepared in case of any mishaps.

Swimming Safety Tips

1. Always Swim Close to a Lifeguard - statistics by USLA over the last ten years reveal that death by drowning is five times more likely when you swim without a lifeguard close by. With a lifeguard close by, USLA calculates that the odds of death by drowning drop to just 1 in 18 million.
2. Learn How to Swim - the best defense against drowning when at the beach is by learning how to swim. Teach your children to swim as early as is practically possible.
3. Never Ever Go Out Swimming Alone - most drowning accidents involve lone swimmers. Always swim with at least one partner in tow, or, better still, several partners. In case any mishaps happen while swimming, your partners will help you out. If you insist on swimming alone, then at least have someone onshore keep an eye on you.
4. Don’t Fight the Current - rip currents are responsible for forming what many people mistakenly think to be under-tows. These are caused by the effect of surfs pushing the water up while gravity pulls it back down. The result is a series of concentrated rivers that move offshore. If you happen to be caught in a rip current, avoid the temptation to fight against it. Doing so will exhaust you and put you in real danger of drowning. Instead of doing this, swim parallel to the current until it subsides, then swim to the shore. Rip currents are normally narrow and if swimming parallel to the shore, you will soon move out of its territory.
5. Swim Sober - never attempt to go swimming after drinking alcohol, even if you have only had a few drinks. Alcohol lowers the body temperature, compromises your judgment and can make you take unnecessary risks.
6. Leash Your Board - body-boards and surfboards should always be used with a leash. The leash should be attached to the board on one end and your wrist or ankle on the other end. The leash helps you to stay attached to the floatation device. A breakaway leash may be better because it breaks in case it gets entangled in obstructions and may therefore minimize the danger.
7. Use Life Jackets When Boating - always wear life jackets when boating. Children in particular should never step into the boat without life jackets.
8. Only Use Inflatable Rafts if You Can Swim - it is very risky to float on an inflatable raft where the sea is deep if you can’t swim because you could easily drown if the raft capsizes. Only do this where the water is shallow.

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By Kenny Leigh