Sports Safety Tips - Part 1

Learn how to swim.

The first and most important thing you can do is learn to swim. Virtually any community center or local Red Cross offers swimming lessons for children and adults at reasonable prices. The sooner children learn to swim and be comfortable in the water, the easier and more natural it will be for them.

Always wear a life jacket.

Regardless of your swimming ability, make sure that you always wear a life jacket,personal flotation device, wet suit or other appropriate gear. A full 90% of boaters who drowned in 2008 were not wearing life jackets. Even if you’re a great swimmer, you could be knocked unconscious, exhausted by the currents or overcome by the elements. Wearing a life jacket not only keeps you afloat, but makes you more visible to rescuers in the event of an accident.

Never go out on the water alone.

Make sure you have someone with you at all times whether you’re swimming, boating or fishing. Make sure that friends or family on shore know where you’re going on the water and for how long. This will help them know where to look for you if you’re gone longer than expected.

Make sure you have the proper equipment.

Regardless of the water vehicle you’re using, be sure to carry extra equipment. For example, extra life jackets, flares, a whistle, and ship to shore radio can all come in handy in an emergency. Carry extra maintenance equipment as well, such as a repair kit and fire extinguisher. Make sure you have a first aid kit with you at all times. Store these items safely, and make sure everyone on the boat knows where they are and how to reach them.

If you are out on a boat, have a good GPS navigator system on board. Even if it is a portable handheld GPS unit, it will help to provide valuable information, such as directions, currents, water depth, buoys,and obstacles in the water. If an emergency does occur, you can quickly determine the fastest way back to shore.

Know the correct way to use and store your equipment.

Make sure that everyone in your party knows the proper use and storage of recreational equipment such as water skis, skate board, Airhead towable tubes and the like. Be sure the equipment is stored safely and securely on your vehicle prior to use.