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Safety in the water
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Taking certain safety measures before taking a dip in the pool or going on a long sailing trip will help you out of difficult situations.
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PRUDENCE PAYS: No child should be in the water without constant adult supervision.
LEARN TO swim. Sounds obvious, but many still die on boating trips, and after wading into the sea without knowing how to swim.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of accidental death. Children as young as four years old can learn to swim.
Despite the claims of some Russian sports physiologists, it is probably not a good idea to teach infants and toddlers swimming.
It may inculcate in them a false sense of confidence about water, and they are more likely to attempt swimming when adults are not around.
Even floatation devices, apart from life jackets, can be a bad idea because they can instil a false sense of confidence in adults about their children in the pool.
No child should be in the water without constant adult supervision. A fatality can occur even during a brief unsupervised interval.
Learn cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR). It is easy to learn and it saves lives.
Most doctors will be happy to teach you this skill.
Never swim alone, and do not swim in the dark. Even the most skilled swimmer can suffer from cramps and need help.
If you are cramping, try to massage the painful area while swimming in one place. And call for help.
To prevent cramps, do not swim after a strenuous workout, after a heavy meal, when you are too tired, and when it is too cold or too hot.
Swimming in a group allows you to watch out for the weaker swimmers in the group.
Do not swim, supervise swimmers, or sail under the influence of alcohol. Even small amounts of alcohol that do not make you overtly drunk can impair your judgment, sense of balance and thermoregulation.
To avoid choking, do not chew gum or eat while you are in the water.
Keep your eyes and ears open. In lakes and ponds, watch out for underwater plants that can tangle you up.
Avoid swimming close to boats. Do not swim directly under the diving board in a pool.
Make sure the water is at least nine feet deep before you attempt a dive.
If you ever find yourself caught in a raging current, swim across the current instead of against it.
Know your limits. When you are swimming out into the ocean, do not wait until you get tired before you turn around.
Even if you are a good swimmer, wear a lifejacket when you go on a long sailing trip.
Keep an eye on the weather. Water, though not pure distilled water, is a good conductor of electricity, so get out of it before the thunderstorm begins.
RAJIV. M
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