Make a (safe) splash
Experts offer tips for swimming at home or at public pools
By Doug Graham
news@joplinglobe.com

As an aerobic exercise, swimming offers an array of health benefits, including strengthening the heart and lungs and improving endurance, in addition to feeling great on a hot summer day.

But experts say there are a number of dangers to be aware of while taking a dip.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drownings account for nearly a third of the deaths of 1- to 4-year-old children and are the second leading cause of accidental death for those aged 1 to 14 years.

Swimming at home
Gary Bard, with Seaside Pools in Joplin, said there are several safety precautions people can take when installing a new pool at their home.

“Usually the people that buy pools know what to do and what not to do,” said Bard. “They need to have a fence and a lock so kids can’t get in. Some have an alarm on the gate; some have an alarm on the pool so if the water splashes it sets off an alarm in the house.”

Bard also recommended constant supervision for children.

“Little kids don’t know what danger is," he said. “They see water and they want in it, so parents need to keep an eye on them.”
The Centers for Disease Control, while also suggesting locked gates and alarms, says that toys can be a dangerous attraction for children, tempting them to lean over the pool and fall in if the toys are left floating in the water. They recommend removing such toys immediately after use.

Also, the CDC says not to use toys like water wings, fun noodles and inner tubes in place of life jackets. These toys are designed for fun, not for saving lives.

They say adults supervising children should not be doing anything that takes their attention away from the kids, including reading a book or talking on the phone.

Public pools
While most drownings occur in residential pools, Greg Lopez, co-manager of the Pittsburg Aquatic Center in Pittsburg, Kan., says parents need to pay close attention to their children while they swim, even at a public pool.

“The main thing is just always keep an eye on your child … ,” Lopez said. “I have enough faith in our guards, but they’re here to watch the water, not to baby-sit your child.”

Lopez said 11 guards are on duty at all times, but they can’t keep track of every child in the pool. Another problem stems from running on the pool deck, which is usually slippery from kids getting in and out of the water.

“A lot of the times accidents happen just running,” Lopez said. “Kids slip and fall. It’s just horseplay, and a lot of the teenagers that are here just horse around.”

Kids 8 years old and older can come to the pool by themselves, but Lopez said an older brother or sister usually accompanies them.

“We have a height limit on our island for our slides,” he said. “By 8 years old most of those kids are tall enough to go down there by themselves.”

Lopez said another chief concern should be sun protection. He recommends wearing at least SPF 30 sunblock and applying it every hour.

He said life jackets are available at the pool if parents request them, and Coast Guard-approved life jackets are allowed in the pool.

Avoid the pits
In this area, people often choose to swim in ponds, lakes and abandoned mine pits.

But Chris Whitley, a spokesman for region 7 of the Environmental Protection Agency, which covers Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Nebraska, said it may be best to stick to the swimming pool.

Mine pits, Whitley said, are particularly dangerous and should be avoided.

“There are kind of two aspects to (the danger) — obviously the one that would be closest to us here at EPA is the fact that there can be lead contamination,” he said.

Lead poisoning is especially dangerous to small children, often causing irreparable brain and nervous-system damage.
The other issues with swimming in mine pits lie below the surface.

“There can be very irregular subsurface terrain,” Whitley said. “There might be a huge rock.”

Whitley also said there is no telling what’s been dumped into the pits.

“Over the years a number of those flooded pits have been used for garbage dumps — everything from ordinary household garbage to stolen cars will go in them from time to time. You just don’t know,” he said.

More safety tips...
• The most basic tip: Learn to swim!
• Take lessons. Always swim with a buddy; never swim alone.
• Swim in supervised areas only.
• Obey all rules and posted signs.
• Don't mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your judgement, balance, and coordination; affects your swimming and
diving skills and reduces your body's ability to stay warm.
• Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts.
• Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.

Boating Safety
Whether you're the captain of the boat or a passenger following safety guidelines ensure your safety and that of other boaters.
• Be weather wise:
Sudden wind shifts, lightning flashes and choppy water all can mean a storm is brewing. Bring a portable radio to check weather reports.
•  Bring extra gear you may need: A flashlight, extra batteries, matches, a map of where you are, flares, sunblock, first aid kit, extra sunglasses should be packed. Put things that need to be protected in a watertight pouch or a container that floats.
•   Tell someone where you're going, who is with you, and how long you'll be away.
•   Check your boat, equipment, boat balance, engine and fuel supply before leaving.
•   Wear life jackets, especially if you do not swim!

United States Coast Guard Boating Safety Tips

Photo above - John Mails of Joplin is flanked by his children Joliegh Mails, 5, (left) and Brady Mails, 3, at the Ewert Park pool in Joplin Wednesday, June 11, 2008. Globe/T. Rob Brown