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Learn to swim
- The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around
the water is to learn to swim--this includes adults and
children. The American Red Cross has swimming courses for
people of any age and swimming ability. Contact your local
Red Cross chapter for information on courses
Stay within the designated swimming area - ideally
within the visibility of a lifeguard
Never swim alone
Check the
surf conditions before you enter the water- Check to see
if a warning flag is up or check with a lifeguard for water
conditions, beach conditions, or any potential hazards
Stay away from piers, pilings, and diving platforms when
in the water
Keep a lookout for aquatic life - Water plants and
animals may be dangerous. Avoid patches of plants. Leave
animals alone
Make sure you always have enough energy to swim back to
shore
Don’t try to swim against a current if caught in one
- Swim gradually out of the current, by swimming across it
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Protect your skin - Sunlight contains two kinds of UV
rays -- UVA increases the risk of skin cancer, skin aging,
and other skin diseases. UVB causes sunburn and can lead to
skin cancer. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive
between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear a sunscreen with a
sun protection factor containing a high rating such as 15
Drink plenty of water regularly and often even if you do
not feel thirsty - Your body needs water to keep cool.
Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them. They can make
you feel good briefly but make the heat's effects on your
body worse. This is especially true with beer, which
dehydrates the body
Watch for signs of heat stroke - Heat stroke is
life-threatening. The victim's temperature control system,
which produces sweating to cool the body, stops working. The
body temperature can rise so high that brain damage and
death may result if the body is not cooled quickly. Signals
include hot, red, and dry skin; changes in consciousness,
rapid, weak pulse, and rapid, shallow breathing. Call 9-1-1
or your local EMS number. Move the person to a cooler place.
Quickly cool the body by wrapping wet sheets around the body
and fan it. If you have ice packs or cold packs, place them
on each of the victim's wrists and ankles, in the armpits
and on the neck to cool the large blood vessels. Watch for
signals of breathing problems and make sure the airway is
clear. Keep the person lying down
Wear eye protection - Sunglasses are like sunscreen
for your eyes and protect against damage that can occur from
UV rays. Be sure to wear sunglasses with labels that
indicate that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV sunlight
Wear foot protection - Many times, people's feet can
get burned from the sand or cut from glass in the sand |
