The National Post has a good article about the dangers of the water and how to go about staying safe this summer.
Go ahead, get wet and wild this summer, but do it safely
Whether swimming, boating or fishing, give water respect
Dr. Tim Rindlisbacher, National Post
Published: Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Midsummer temperatures are finally upon us. Naturally, we try to escape the heat by crawling back into our nearest bowl of primordial soup. But lakes, rivers and swimming pools come with risks – especially for children – and news reports of drownings seem like a tragic summertime ritual.
Water is the most beautiful element. It’s also the cruellest. Not only can water suffocate us, it can crush us, make us sick and hide injury-causing obstacles. Despite public awareness campaigns, many people don’t give water the degree of respect it deserves. Swimming, fishing or boating near hydroelectric plants, dams and spillways for example, can be extremely dangerous. Dams are opened when there is a need for more electricity or when water must be released. It can happen at any time and this can catch you unaware. Waters in these areas can change from scenically serene to deadly torrents in a matter of seconds.
But the perils of water extend to even the placid pool, pond or wading fountain. Anyone who’s ever belly-flopped or otherwise misjudged a dive knows that water can be almost as hard as concrete if you hit it the wrong way. Worse still is hitting the bottom headfirst. The slogan "don’t drink and dive" doesn’t get as much exposure as its vehicular cousin, but it should. Excessive alcohol intake is strongly linked to shallow-water diving accidents that paralyze scores of vigorous young people every summer. More "No diving, shallow water" signs are also needed if these tragedies are to be averted.
Simple precautions can prevent most boating deaths. These begin with life-jacket (or personal flotation device – PFD) compliance. Parents need to ensure their children are wearing Canadian Standards Association (CSA)-approved life jackets. Keep in mind that a proper fit is crucial. The PFD needs to keep the head above water, without slipping up on the torso, compressing the windpipe and choking the wearer.
Children also need to be protected from the consequences of adult drinking. It’s no secret that a high number of boating accidents also involve alcohol intoxication. That number won’t go down without better law enforcement and a change in social attitudes.
By all means, splash away. Encourage your children to build the kind of fond, aquatic memories that will continue to make them smile many years later. Soak up the good times water provides, but please enjoy it responsibly and with respect for others.
Tim Rindlisbacher, BSc (PT), MD, Dip. Sport Med., is director of Sports Health at the Cleveland Clinic in Toronto.
