Safety Tips for Water Babies

Water is a magnet for summer travelers, whether they are destined for a hotel pool, the ocean or a favorite river. But swim outings can take a tragic turn.

In the United States, drowning was the cause of death for 2,700 people away from home or work (not including flood victims) in 1995, the latest year for which figures are available, according to the National Safety Council. Another 800 died in water transport mishaps (including drownings, falls and burns), and thousands more were hospitalized for near-drownings.

Young children are particularly at risk; more than 60% of all children who drown in pools are under age 4. Drowning often occurs when parents take their eyes off their children for only seconds. A child loses consciousness after being submerged for two minutes, according to the National Safety Council. Irreversible brain damage sets in after four to six minutes.

To reduce the risks, experts recommend that travelers follow a number of safety measures, use common sense and consider training classes in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR.

Close supervision of young swimmers is especially important not only at rivers, lakes and hotel pools, where there is rarely a lifeguard on duty, but also in ocean waters, where riptides (not really tides but currents) can quickly pull swimmers under. Whatever the setting, the buddy system is recommended for adult swimmers.

Ideally, a hotel pool should have basic lifesaving equipment, according to the National Safety Council. A strong, lightweight pole, about 10 or 12 feet in length, and a ring buoy with line attached should be kept in the pool area at all times. Emergency phone numbers to police, fire, a nearby hospital and paramedics should be kept at hand. A phone should be easily accessible. Pool decks should be clear of debris and equipment.

Children should wear personal flotation devices that are Coast Guard approved, said B. Chris Brewster, lifeguard chief for the City of San Diego and chairman of the national certification committee for the U.S. Lifesaving Assn., a Huntington Beach-based organization of lifeguards. Look for the “Coast Guard-approved” notation on the label. “Forget those blowup [devices] on each arm,” he said.

To help parents keep track of young children, there also is the Parent Pager, a two-unit device that alerts parents if their child wanders beyond a preset distance of 8 feet or more. One unit worn by the adult is small enough to fit on a key chain or can be carried in a pocket or clipped to a belt. The child’s unit is housed in a pouch on a child-resistant belt. If submerged, the child’s unit sounds the parent unit alarm immediately. (About $40; for more information, call [800] 767-3254.)

While such devices can help, “The biggest factor is parental supervision,” said David Alexander of the National Safety Council. Brewster agreed that such devices are only a backup to a parent’s watchful eye.

Paying attention to equipment also can reduce risks of mishaps for older children. If older children who are adequate swimmers use bodyboards in the ocean, “Be sure they have leashes just like surfboards,” Brewster suggested, allowing swimmers to grab on if they get separated from the boards.

Common sense can go a long way toward reducing the risk of drowning. Drinking alcoholic beverages and swimming don’t mix, warned Brewster, who added that alcohol is believed to be associated with many adult drownings.

Trying to swim (or engage in other workouts) after a large meal will be more difficult, Brewster said, because the process of digestion will divert blood and oxygen from working muscles, “but I’ve never seen a significant association between drowning and [eating] a big meal.”

River drownings often are associated with waders or swimmers who encounter a steep drop-off and go under, Brewster said. Many other river swimmers drown after they swim after a ball or other object, end up too far away from the banks and cannot make it back, he added.

Nonswimmers should not use flotation mats while in water over their heads, Brewster said, because the devices can give them a false sense of security.

Knowing how to handle unexpected situations such as a riptide can help reduce drowning risk too. “About 80% of ocean rescues in the U.S. by lifeguards are caused by riptides,” said Brewster, an 18-year veteran. And where there are riptides, there usually is surf, he said. If the surf is moderate to strong, he added, riptides are probable.

When swimmers encounter a riptide, Brewster tells them to swim parallel to the shore or to go with the flow of the current until it releases them. “The key is, don’t fight the current.”

Training in CPR is advised too. For information on classes, call the American Red Cross. Look under American Red Cross in the white pages of the telephone book to find the chapter closest to you.

The Healthy Traveler appears the second and fourth week of every month.