Written by: Lauren Petersen, WWH Aquatics Coordinator

It is officially summertime. School is done for many, and vacations and outdoor adventures are happening every day. Summer events often include waterparks, lakes, rivers, oceans and being with people we care for. When participating in aquatic activities, it is highly encouraged to be water competent. This includes understanding aquatic environments and your own ability level, having basic water skills, and knowing how to help others.

The Red Cross and Water Safety USA are great resources for water safety, and they have some basic guidelines below that you can follow to create a safer environment for you and others around you.

• Understand and adjust for the risks of the water environment you are in.
• Understand the dangers of hyperventilation and hypoxic blackout.
• Understand how currents can affect swimming.
• Know how to call for help.
• Know your limitations.
• Never swim alone.
• Wear a life jacket.
• Swim in safe areas.
• Swim sober.
• Do not dive in shallow water.

Take the extra five minutes to prepare before you go somewhere to check what other safety measures may need to be taken before or during your experience.

According to The Red Cross, “85% of Americans say they can swim, but only 56% can perform all the five basic skills that could save their life in the water.”

The five basic skills:

1. Enter the water and completely submerge.
2. Float or tread water.
3. Turn around to find an exit.
4. Swim 25 yards to the exit without stopping.
5. Exit the water without using a ladder.

If you cannot complete all five of these basic skills, you are not alone, and it is never too late to learn. It also does not mean you will not be safe when participating in water activities. This is where knowing your abilities comes into play. I recently had a young adult share about their fear of water and how much of a barrier it can be to participate in and around aquatic environments. They asked what they could do to help that, and I am so glad they did.

Seasonally, Western Wisconsin Health offers group and private swimming lessons for all ages six months and older with a water safety instructor. These are in place to help create positive experiences with water, get comfortable and confident in basic swimming skills and provide information about water safety. Wherever you are at in your level of confidence in water, WWH is here to support you as best as we can!

The last piece of becoming water competent is knowing how to help others. “Drowning can happen in as little as 20-60 seconds” according to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance and “there is an average of 4,012 unintentional drowning deaths each year.” Simply paying attention to those around you, knowing what it looks like when someone is drowning, and knowing how to safely assist someone if needed are three major things that you can do to keep each other safe. I highly encourage you to visit the Water Safety USA homepage or the Red Cross homepage >Get Help>How to Prepare for Emergencies>Types of Emergencies>Water Safety for more information on this topic.

Whether you are out boating on the river, playing in a kiddie pool in the backyard, or taking the family to a local swimming pool or waterpark this summer, run through your checklist before you go.

• Will there be a lifeguard there?
• Do you need a life jacket?
• Do you need sunscreen?
• Do you need another adult to go with you?
• Is there a current in the water where you are going?
• Did you check an online resource for more information?
• Anything else needed?

I hope you can use this as a starting point to further prepare yourself for aquatic outings this summer. Remember to research, reflect on your own skill set and look out for those around you. Have a safe and happy summer!

If you are interested in finding out more information about the swim or aquatics classes that Western Wisconsin Health offers, please visit www.wwhealth.org or call 715-684-1646.  Western Wisconsin Health, Building a Healthier Tomorrow, Together.

Resources

5 Skills to Save Your Life in the Water, www.redcross.org/content/dam/redcross/atg/PHSS_UX_Content/Infographic-Water-Safety-Skills.pdf. Accessed 14 June 2024.

“Drowning Facts.” NDPA, 19 June 2024, ndpa.org/drowning-facts-2\. Accessed 14 June 2024.

“Water Competency.” Water Safety USA, www.watersafetyuse.org/water-competency-html. Accessed 14 June 2024.

“Water Safety.” American Red Cross, www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety.html. Accessed 14 June 2024.