POTENTIAL HAZARDS IN SWIMMING:

TOP SWIMMING POOL HAZARDS

Drowning: Even shallow water can be very dangerous for those who do not know how to swim. If no adults are present to
supervise swimmers, there’s an increased risk that the smallest accident could turn serious. Owners must have lifesaving
equipment near the swimming pool and have a fence around it to limit access.
Solid pool covers: Many swimming pool owners use solid covers anchored by water bags to keep the pool covered during
the off-season. If the pool has yet to be opened this year, these covers can be very dangerous to small children and animals,
as they can easily get trapped under the cover if they accidentally trip and fall into the pool.
Diving board accidents: Diving boards can be fun for swimmers to jump from, but also very dangerous if used improperly.
Swimming pool owners should enforce basic rules such as no diving when too many people are in the pool, no drinking
alcohol and diving, and no diving if the pool isn’t deep enough to not risk injury.
Harmful Pool Cleansing Chemicals. Sure, we all want to swim in water that has been properly treated with the right
combination of cleansers. However, some of those same cleansers can also pose health risks. If you can smell chlorine, the
pool is over-chlorinated. In addition, those same pool cleansers can cause harm to younger children if they are stored
improperly. Ensure any chemicals (chlorine or pH down acids) are stored away from children’s reach and in a cool, dry place.
Electrical Exposure. To ensure a safe pool environment, cleaning mechanisms used are typically electric. All electrically
powered equipment has the potential to introduce stray electrical current into the pool. Following all of the posted rules and
regulations for pool safety either posted by a pool manager, or your personal pool, is key to remaining safe and avoiding
electric shock. In addition, knowing the signs of electrical exposure is part of prevention against electrical exposure.
Dangerous drains: Powerful suction of pool or spa main drains can potentially lead to entrapment injuries. The Virginia
Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act requires public pools to replace single main drains with much safer dual main drains
and/or install sensoring equipment to turn pumps off if entrapment occurs.
Slip and fall injuries: It is the responsibility of the pool owner to keep the area around the pool safe and dry for people to
walk on. They must warn everyone near the pool to walk slowly and beware of puddles, to make them aware of the safety risk.

Swimming pool accidents can result in serious bodily harm, such as spinal cord injuries, brain damage, and even death. It’s
important for those who own these fun ─ yet potentially dangerous ─ popular summer gathering spots to take the
responsibility very seriously.
A responsible adult should always be on hand to watch out for the well-being of swimmers and take action on a moment’s
notice if needed.

The summer is the perfect time to visit the beach. There’s nothing better than packing up the car, bringing a cooler full of
snacks and drinks, and setting up the umbrella on your own little stretch of paradise. While beach days are normally fun for
the whole family, they can turn sour quickly if beach hazards are present.

We’ve gathered a list of the 10 most common and dangerous beach hazards below so you can be prepared this summer.

1. Rip Currents
The first beach hazards on our list are rip currents. This is the
most important beach hazard you can learn about this summer.
Rip currents account for 80% of rescues performed by
lifeguards. In fact, rip currents claim at least 100 lives each
year. But what exactly is a rip current? It’s a strong, narrow
current flowing outward from the beach through the surf zone
and presents a hazard to swimmers.

Rip currents are tricky, but you can tell where one is by
monitoring the surf zone. If there is an area where waves aren’t
breaking (a break in the pattern of incoming waves), that is most
likely a rip tide.
 Other characteristics include:
Occurring near structures like piers or jetties
Occurring in low spots or breaks in sandbars
A channel of churning, choppy water
Noticeably different water color
Line of foam, seaweed or debris moving steadily seaward
If caught it a rip current, experts say don’t fight the current directly. It can be hard not to panic at the current takes you out to
sea, but the best thing you can do is swim out of it. You can float to conserve energy as well. To swim out of a rip current,
swim parallel to the shore. NEVER try to swim directly against the current. This will only tire you out.

2. Structures

The second beach hazards on our list are structures in the water.
Piers, jetties, and groins all pose a risk to swimmers. Not only can
waves knock you into these areas and injure you, but as mentioned
above, these are prime environments for rip currents to occur. Always
swim in designated areas and monitor your surroundings. If a small
current is bringing you closer to a structure, act before you are too
close. If you need help, always signal for a lifeguard.

3. Swimming Without a Lifeguard

That brings us to our next point: Always swim with a lifeguard.

Swimming without a lifeguard at a location with breaking waves
is a huge beach hazard. Ocean and large lakes may seem
harmless, but rip currents, large waves, and injuries can happen
quickly. You may think you are safe because there are other
people around, but you are safer with someone there who knows
what they are doing.
Before you go to the beach, research the lifeguard hours of
operations. Make sure you swim within the designated area and
listen to their instructions. It’s never cool to put yourself or others in danger, so be smart!

4. Lightning

Something that lifeguards often blow their whistles for at the

beach is lightning. Lightning strikes are common beach hazards
that can be very dangerous for swimmers and sunbathers alike.
Lightning is known to strike over 12 miles away from a storm. If
you’re on the beach and you hear thunder, you are already in
danger of lightning striking you. A lot of times, storms coming from
the mainland will catch sunbathers who are facing the ocean off
guard. The water and the open beach are two places you do not
want to be during a thunderstorm.
While some beaches are lucky enough to have lightning alert systems, a lot of beaches don’t prioritize lightning safety. To
prevent lightning-related injuries and deaths while on the beach, use a weather tracking app, pay attention to your
surroundings, and listen to on-duty lifeguards.
If you’re part of the decision-making crew to install an outdoor alerting system at your local beach, take a look at this case
study from a waterfront community in Florida.
5. Drowning

The next beach hazard on our list is simple but deadly:

Drowning. You may think you’re not the typical candidate for a
drowning victim, but there is no typical candidate. Drowning
kills both the young and old, experienced swimmers and
inexperienced swimmers, and people at both ocean and lake
beaches.

Here are a few tips to protect yourself from drowning:

Never swim alone
Always swim near a lifeguard
Know your swimming ability
Stay away from rip tides
Take frequent breaks
Do not swim if you are weak from an illness or injury

6. The Sun

The next beach hazard is another one you may overlook: The sun.
The beach is one of the most common places to get sunburn.
The sun’s strong UV Rays can cause sunburn, eye problems,
and even skin cancer. Protect yourself this summer by using
sunscreen the correct way, which includes:
Using a broad spectrum sunscreen
Applying at least 30 minutes before you are exposed to the sun
Reapplying at least every 2 hours or after you sweat/go in the
water.
Using at least an ounce of sunscreen every time you apply
In addition, you can also sit under an umbrella, wear tightly woven clothing, and wear sunglasses to protect yourself.

7. Dehydration

Picture this: You’re out on the beach all day, soaking up the sun, sweating
from the heat, and laughing with friends and family. Then you go for a quick
swim and suddenly feel lightheaded. You notice you aren’t swimming
anymore and you feel weak. You could be suffering from heat exhaustion,
brought on by dehydration.
Hydrating is extremely important every day, but even more so when you are
busy exerting yourself in the hot sun. A day at the beach can be very distracting and a lot of the time people don’t even
notice they are getting dehydrated there. Make sure you pack plenty of water and refuel throughout the day.

8. Pollution

Unfortunately, pollution is the next hazard on our list. Swimming at beaches

with pollution in the water or sand can make you ill. It happens in a number of
different ways, but they can all injure you or make you sick.
Polluted runoff and untreated sewage released into the water can expose
swimmers to harmful pathogens.
Pollution can also come from high concentrations of farm animal waste. After
runoff pollutes waterways, it can be carried to beaches and swimming areas.
The last main reason for beach pollution is people who visit the beach and carelessly leave trash or animal
waste behind. Clean up your beaches this summer and be on the lookout for hazards. Lifeguards will
often let you know if there is biological or chemical waste in the water. Keep a look out for hazard signs.
9. High Winds

The next hazard on our list is the wind. While you might think this is a weird
entry on our list, it actually makes a lot of sense.
According to NOAA, waves are most created by energy passing through
water. The higher the energy, the larger the waves of water are going to be. If
it’s a particularly windy day, keep an eye on the surf and know what size
waves your swimming ability can handle.
Especially severe waves are caused by dangerous weather conditions, like
hurricanes. These produce storm surges, or a series of long waves that are
created far from shore in deeper water and intensify as they move closer to land. If a hurricane is moving
towards your area, be safe and stay off the beach, piers, and other surrounding areas.

10. Wildlife

The last beach hazards on our list is wildlife. Did you know you are more
likely to be struck by lightning than you are to be attacked by a
shark? While sharks aren’t necessarily a problem for most
swimmers, there are other, more common animals that can be
dangerous. For example, jellyfish produce a painful sting and sea
urchins can be deadly.
While beach wildlife isn’t exactly a hazard to most humans, humans can
be a hazard for certain sea creatures. Leave crustaceans, fish, sting
rays, shellfish, and seagulls alone this summer. If you like to fish, remember not to fish where people are swimming.
Remember not to feed seagulls. After you feed them they will follow you and have even been known to fly away with
belongings and raid coolers full of snacks. To keep the seagulls at bay, remember to throw your trash out in the
designated areas.

LIFE SAVING:
Lifesaving is the act involving rescue, resuscitation and first aid. It often refers to water safety and aquatic rescue; however, it
could include ice rescue, flood and river rescue, swimming pool rescue and other emergency medical services. Lifesaving also
refers to sport where lifesavers compete based on skills, speed and teamwork. Lifesaving activities specialized in oceanic
environment is called surf lifesaving or coastal lifesaving. Those who participate in lifesaving activities as a volunteer are
called lifesavers, and those who are employed to professionally perform lifesaving activities are called lifeguards.
Life saving has become a growing sport in many countries. The sport can be played indoors in swimming pools or outside on
beaches, in the same way that you get pool lifeguards and beach lifeguards. Life saving sport is one of few sports that has a
humanitarian purpose: to train better life savers and life guards.

Self rescue is a lifesaving skill taught to children from crawling age upwards in the water. In a fun environment we teach your
child to roll over from a life-threatening face down position, to independently floating face up and breathing, without panic and
swim to safety or to remain in that position until help arrives.
While programs differ by nation, survival swimming generally consists of learning the minimum skills need to survive an
unexpected fall into deep water: • Roll into deep water and surface with head above water. • Any action to keep head above
water for a period of time, including treading water, for 30 to 90 seconds.

International Life Saving Federation

The International Life Saving Federation (ILS) was established on 27 March 1910 in Paris, France. The ILS is primarily known
as the world authority and head in the global effort to "prevent drowning and regroups national life saving organization/
federations aiming at improving water safety, water rescue, lifesaving and lifeguarding and lifesaving sport.
Prevention Strategies

Officials say you can’t stress enough the rules for pool safety. The more times they are mentioned, the more likely they are to
be followed. Here are some of the most important rules to swim by:
a. Instruct baby-sitters about potential pool hazards to young children and about the use of protective devices, such as
door alarms and latches. Emphasize the need for constant supervision.
b. Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings at or near a pool, appoint a “designated
watcher” to protect young children from pool accidents. Adults may take turns being the “watcher”. Otherwise, adults
may become pre-occupied and assume someone else is watching the children.
c. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool
and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.
d. Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult.
e. Do not consider young children to be drown-proof because they have had swimming lessons or are wearing a life
jacket.
f. Do not use flotation devices, such as water wings, as a substitute for supervision.
g. Learn CPR. Baby-sitters and other caretakers, such as grandparents and older siblings, should also know CPR.
h. Keep rescue equipment by the pool. Be sure a telephone is poolside with emergency numbers posted nearby.
i. Remove toys from in and around the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children to the pool.
j. Never prop open the gate to a pool.
k. Keep CD players, radios, and other electrical devices away from pools or nearby wet surfaces.
l. Stay out of the pool during rain, thunder, and lightning storms.
m. No glass of any kind in the pool area.
n. No running, pushing, wrestling or disturbance in the pool area.
o. No chewing gum permitted in the pool area.
p. Don’t let long hair get near a pool outlet. The suction can cause hair or body entrapment and drowning.
q. Have a First Aid kit with resuscitation equipment (i.e. Personal Resuscitation Mask or Personal Resuscitation Shield)
and Body Substance Isolation equipment at poolside.
r. Never swim alone.
s. No jumping or diving in the shallow area of the pool.
t. Don’t allow children to “play” as though they are drowning – a false alarm might delay a rescue in the event of a real
emergency.
u. When diving, always enter the water with your arms extended firmly overhead and keep your hands together to
protect your head. Never dive in less than 9′ of water and always have at least 25′ of clearance in front of you before
you dive. Diving into shallow water can result in cervical spine injuries causing permanent paralysis. Never dive into
an above-ground pool.
v. Avoid the use of alcohol or other drugs around the water.

Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lifesaving
https://www.earthnetworks.com/blog/10-worst-beach-hazards/
https://lifesaving.com/issues-safety-rescue/swimming-pool-related-drownings-injuries/
https://www.wattelandyork.com/news/top-5-swimming-pool-hazards