 Back |
 As the busy summer season at water parks and aquatic facilities quickly approaches, the St. Louis Area Chapter focused on the importance of adhering to water safety guidelines during its May 12 radio program on KJFF – 1400 AM. Laurie Roberts, safety outreach specialist, joined Omar Ruiz of the Jefferson County Service Center for the 30-minute interview.
The American Red Cross offers the training and educational resources necessary for individuals to enjoy the water in a safe environment. As frightening as the risk of drowning is, it can usually be prevented.
Last year, more than 37,000 people throughout the metropolitan area were trained by the Red Cross in water safety programs such as lifeguard certification and Learn-to-Swim courses. This training supports the mission of the Red Cross to help the public prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies.
Roberts and Ruiz focused on three key areas during their interview: general water safety guidelines, tips related to supervising children in or near the water, and ways to properly safeguard home swimming pools.
General water safety guidelines recommend that individuals always swim with a buddy, obey rules and posted signs, swim in lifeguard-supervised areas, wear an approved life jacket, remain aware of surroundings and potential water hazards, use a feet-first entry into the water, and refrain from the consumption of alcohol while swimming, diving or boating.
Drowning occurs most frequently among children under the age of 5 and young adults from 15 to 24. Ruiz and Roberts emphasized the fundamental importance of maintaining constant supervision of children in or near the water, reminded listeners that flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace watchful eyes, and encouraged adults to remain within an arm’s reach of an inexperienced swimmer while they are in the water. Early education is strongly recommended and you can begin by enrolling a child in a Red Cross Learn-to-Swim course.
While safeguarding home swimming pools, parents and guardians should remain focused on preventing unsupervised access to the water. A fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate should completely enclose the pool area. Rules for pool usage, depth markers and “no diving” signs should be posted and enforced without exception. Toys should be kept away from the pool when it is not in use, and “kiddie” pools should be emptied immediately following use. A reaching pole, rope and flotation devices should be easily accessible, and the family should receive training in CPR and first aid.
To conclude the interview, Roberts and Ruiz expanded the discussion of water safety to include the St. Louis Area Chapter’s Aquatic Examiner Service, a program designed to develop and enhance lifeguarding skills and to maintain the highest standards of excellence at aquatic facilities throughout the area.
Through this service, water parks and aquatic facilities have an opportunity for the Red Cross to evaluate lifeguard skills and ensure adherence to proper safety procedures and guidelines. Each client receives an initial conference that includes an assessment of current operations by Red Cross examiners.
Training for lifeguards and support personnel is provided and reinforced by unannounced on-site evaluations. Lifeguards are expected to demonstrate their skills during these evaluations, which are videotaped for use as an educational tool and are reviewed by facility management.
To learn more about American Red Cross water safety programs or to enroll in a training class, call 314.516.2726 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org. Stay tuned for the June installment of the Red Cross program on KJFF, which airs at 10:30 a.m., Friday, June 10.
This story may be available for an Adobe Acrobat PDF download. Click on the link below to visit the site download center. If a PDF is available, the file will automatically open in your browser. |
|
|