Water SafetyWater Safety77thth Grade Grade

Objective 4.4Objective 4.4

• Create a plan to reduce the risk of Create a plan to reduce the risk of water-related injuries.water-related injuries.

Most Common Most Common Causes of Drowning:Causes of Drowning:

• Pick Four!!Pick Four!!

• Not knowing how to swimNot knowing how to swim

• Not wearing a life jacketNot wearing a life jacket

• Lack of supervision (an adult watching Lack of supervision (an adult watching you) you)

• Diving in shallow waterDiving in shallow water

• Ocean currentOcean current

• River currentRiver current

Most Common Causes of Most Common Causes of Drowning:Drowning:

• Pick Three!!Pick Three!!

• Going beyond their swimming abilityGoing beyond their swimming ability• Getting tiredGetting tired• Horseplay/daresHorseplay/dares• Accidentally falling inAccidentally falling in• Leg crampsLeg cramps• Use of alcohol or other drugsUse of alcohol or other drugs

DivingDiving::

• Diving accounts for 10% of all the Diving accounts for 10% of all the spinal cord injuries in the U.S.spinal cord injuries in the U.S.

• Spinal cord injuries can result in Spinal cord injuries can result in paralysis or death.paralysis or death.

• Always check the depth of the water Always check the depth of the water before diving.before diving.

• Enter the water feet first to check the Enter the water feet first to check the depth.depth.

Diving:Diving:

• The American Red Cross The American Red Cross recommends that water be at least 9 recommends that water be at least 9 feet deep to dive safelyfeet deep to dive safely..

• Check the bottom for objects.Check the bottom for objects.

• Never dive in murky water.Never dive in murky water.

• Obey “No Diving” signs.Obey “No Diving” signs.

Personal Water Craft (jet Personal Water Craft (jet ski)ski)

• Know and follow local laws and Know and follow local laws and regulations regarding personal water regulations regarding personal water crafts.crafts.

• Take a boating safety course.Take a boating safety course.

• Always attach the shut-off lanyardAlways attach the shut-off lanyard..

• Follow the traffic pattern of the Follow the traffic pattern of the waterway.waterway.

Personal Water Craft (jet Personal Water Craft (jet ski)ski)

• Run your PWC at a slow speed until Run your PWC at a slow speed until you are away from shore, swimming you are away from shore, swimming areas and docks.areas and docks.

• Obey no-wake and speed zones.Obey no-wake and speed zones.

• Use caution around swimmers and Use caution around swimmers and surfers.surfers.

Personal Water Craft (jet Personal Water Craft (jet ski)ski)• Always wear Coast Guard approved Always wear Coast Guard approved

PFD (personal floatation devices) PFD (personal floatation devices) when riding a jet ski.when riding a jet ski.

• Ride with a buddy and travel with Ride with a buddy and travel with another PWC, if possible. You never another PWC, if possible. You never know when an emergency may know when an emergency may occur.occur.

• Do not drink alcohol or use drugs.Do not drink alcohol or use drugs.

Ocean CurrentOcean Current

• Rip currents cause most of the drowning in Rip currents cause most of the drowning in the ocean. Rip currents pull a person away the ocean. Rip currents pull a person away from shore.from shore.

• Don’t try to fight the current or swim Don’t try to fight the current or swim against it. Call for help.against it. Call for help.

• When you feel the current not pulling you When you feel the current not pulling you out to shore, swim parallel to the shore out to shore, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the rip current.until you are out of the rip current.

• Then swim back to shore. Then swim back to shore.

Beach and Surf SafetyBeach and Surf Safety

What are other guidelines that should be What are other guidelines that should be followed to stay safe at the beach?followed to stay safe at the beach?

– Check with the lifeguard about surf and beach Check with the lifeguard about surf and beach conditions before swimming.conditions before swimming.

– Never swim alone.Never swim alone.– Always swim close to the lifeguard stand.Always swim close to the lifeguard stand.

Beach and Surf SafetyBeach and Surf Safety

– Don’t run and dive into ocean waves.Don’t run and dive into ocean waves.– Obey warning signs (Example: Obey warning signs (Example:

Dangerous Current).Dangerous Current).– Make sure an adult is watching you.Make sure an adult is watching you.

River CurrentRiver Current

• Small river currents can be strong Small river currents can be strong currents.currents.

• If caught in a river current:If caught in a river current:– Don’t try to swim against the current.Don’t try to swim against the current.– Float on your back, feet first Float on your back, feet first

downstream.downstream.– Shout for helpShout for help..

River Safety GuidelinesRiver Safety Guidelines

• Never swim alone.Never swim alone.• Wear an approved PFD.Wear an approved PFD.• Keep a watch on water depth Keep a watch on water depth

changes. The water depth in a river changes. The water depth in a river can change quickly due to recent can change quickly due to recent storms. Get out of the water if it storms. Get out of the water if it appears to be rising.appears to be rising.

BoatingBoating

• Know the state laws where you are Know the state laws where you are planning to take your boat.planning to take your boat.

• Everyone in the boat should wear a Everyone in the boat should wear a Coast Guard approved PFD (personal Coast Guard approved PFD (personal floatation device).floatation device).

• Anyone being pulled behind the boat Anyone being pulled behind the boat must wear a PFD. must wear a PFD.

BoatingBoating

• Make sure you tell someone where Make sure you tell someone where you are planning to go boating or you are planning to go boating or fishing (in case of bad weather or fishing (in case of bad weather or engine problems).engine problems).

Cold Exposure or Cold Exposure or HypothermiaHypothermiaThe factors that contribute to cold exposure The factors that contribute to cold exposure

or hypothermia:or hypothermia:• Temperature Temperature • Wet (rain, sweat, water) Wet (rain, sweat, water) • Wind (blowing)Wind (blowing)

Each one of these factors increase the Each one of these factors increase the likelihood of hypothermia and determine likelihood of hypothermia and determine how quickly hypothermia will occur.how quickly hypothermia will occur.

Cold Exposure or Cold Exposure or HypothermiaHypothermia

Water Temperature

Time until unconsciousness or exhaustion

Expected time of survival in water

60 – 70 degrees 2 - 7 hours 2 - 40 hours

50 – 60 degrees 1 – 2 hours 1 – 6 hours

40 – 50 degrees 30 – 60 minutes 1 – 3 hours

33 – 40 degrees 15 – 30 minutes 30 – 90 minutes

Under 32 degrees Less than 15 minutes

15 – 45 minutes

General Water Safety RulesGeneral Water Safety Rules

• Pick Three!!Pick Three!!• Learn how to swim.Learn how to swim.• Never swim alone.Never swim alone.• Make sure you have adult supervision at all Make sure you have adult supervision at all

times.times.• Know your swimming limits and stay within Know your swimming limits and stay within

them.them.• Watch weak swimmers when they are in the Watch weak swimmers when they are in the

water.water.• Don’t encourage or dare others to do things Don’t encourage or dare others to do things

that may be dangerous or they are not a that may be dangerous or they are not a strong enough swimmer to accomplish.strong enough swimmer to accomplish.

General Water Safety RulesGeneral Water Safety Rules

• Don’t depend on floatation devices to stay Don’t depend on floatation devices to stay afloat. Wear a Coast Guard approved PFD. afloat. Wear a Coast Guard approved PFD. This applies for babies and small children This applies for babies and small children also. Floats and water wings are not also. Floats and water wings are not reliable devices for keeping them afloat.reliable devices for keeping them afloat.

• Swimming is a vigorous form of exercise Swimming is a vigorous form of exercise so rest frequently.so rest frequently.

• Do not consume alcohol or any drugs.Do not consume alcohol or any drugs.

General Water Safety RulesGeneral Water Safety Rules

• Seek out local knowledge when Seek out local knowledge when swimming or diving in a new location.swimming or diving in a new location.

• Obey all warning signs. Obey all warning signs.

• Know and respect the water. Each Know and respect the water. Each body of water has its own hazard.body of water has its own hazard.

• Learn CPR, especially if you have a Learn CPR, especially if you have a swimming pool at your houseswimming pool at your house..