MEMORIAL DAY IS THE UNOFFICIAL START OF SUMMER, MEANING MILLIONS OF ADULTS AND CHILDREN WILL BE HEADING INTO THE WATER TO COOL OFF. CARLOS FLORES JOINS US LIVE FROM LAKE HARTWELL WITH SOME TIPS FROM LOCAL SWIM INSTRUCTORS ON HOW YOU CAN HAVE FUN SAFELY. HEY CARLOS. HOW YOU DOING THERE, SYDNEY? THAT’S RIGHT. MAY IS ACTUALLY CONSIDERED WATER SAFETY MONTH, AND LEADERS WITH THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAVE REPORTED THAT DROWNING IS CONSIDERED THE THIRD LEADING CAUSE OF UNINTENTIONAL DEATHS AND INJURIES, AND SOME LOCAL SWIM INSTRUCTORS WANT TO MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE TOOLS YOU NEED. SUMMERTIME IS JUST ABOUT HERE, AND THAT MEANS MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WILL BE OUT ENJOYING THE WATER. BUT KARLA REYNOLDS WITH SWIM SAVVY SAYS WITHOUT THE RIGHT TRAINING OR SAFETY EQUIPMENT, THINGS CAN TAKE A TURN. WATER IS A HUGE FORCE THAT CAN REALLY. THINGS CAN GO BADLY VERY QUICKLY. SO BEING ABLE TO BE COMFORTABLE AND CONFIDENT IN THE WATER MAKES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HAVING FUN AND IF SOMETHING HAPPENS, HAVING TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL BELT TO KNOW WHAT TO DO. IF A SITUATION ARISES THAT YOU NEED HELP. LEADERS WITH THE NATIONAL DROWNING PREVENTION ALLIANCE SAYS HAVING A LIFEJACKET CAN ALSO BE HELPFUL, ESPECIALLY IN LARGER BODIES OF WATER. LIFE JACKETS ARE GREAT BECAUSE THEY PROVIDE THAT BUOYANCY THAT IF YOU ARE NOT A STRONG SWIMMER, IF YOU’RE CAUGHT IN A CURRENT OR SOME UNFAMILIAR BODY OF WATER AND ARE GETTING TIRED, IT PROVIDES YOU THAT BUOYANCY UNTIL SOMEONE CAN FIND YOU OR UNTIL YOU CAN GET TO A SIDE OR GET OUT OF THAT SITUATION. BUT NOTHING BEATS LEARNING HOW TO SWIM. REBECCA CRAIG WITH AQUA ANGELS SAYS THIS INCLUDES TREADING WATER, SWIMMING FOR AT LEAST 25 YARDS WITHOUT A BREAK, AND BEING ABLE TO JUMP IN AND GET OUT WITH EASE. IF YOU CAN’T DO THOSE THINGS, THEN I RECOMMEND SWIMMING LESSONS. AND LIKE I SAID, IF IT’S YOU AS AN ADULT OR YOUR CHILD NEEDS NEPHEW, SOMETHING LIKE THAT. UM, THEY ALSO NEED TO TAKE SWIMMING LESSONS. SWIM LESSONS BECOMES AN INSURANCE TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU ARE ABLE TO HAVE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL BELT TO HELP YOURSELF. IF YOU GET INTO A SITUATION THAT YOU CAN’T CONTROL. CARLOS, WHAT OTHER HELPFUL TIPS SHOULD ANYONE KNOW BEFORE JUMPING INTO A POOL, A LAKE, AN OCEAN, ANY BODY OF WATER? WELL, I WAS TOLD MAKING SURE YOU KNOW HOW TO FLOAT IT CAN BE VERY HELPFUL IN ANY OF THOSE SITUATIONS AS WELL. IN THE POOL SITUATION OR EVEN AT A BEACH SITUATION, MAKING SURE THAT THERE IS A LIFEGUARD ON DUTY AND THAT THEY ARE CPR CERTIFIED. AND FINALLY LEARNING HOW TO CONTROL YOUR BREATHING, ESPECIALLY DURING INTENSE SITUATIONS. BUT FOR NOW, LIVE IN ANDERSON CO
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Swim instructors offer tips before getting into the water, recommend swimming lessons
May is National Water Safety Month. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury or death around the world.Local swim instructors believe that without the right training or safety equipment, things can take a turn very quickly. "Water is a huge force that can go badly very quickly. So being able to be comfortable and confident in the water makes the difference between having fun and if something happens, having tools in the tool belt to know what to do if the situation arises that you need help," said Carla Reynolds, founder of Swim Savvy, an aquatic swim lesson company in South Carolina."When it’s something that is 100%, drowning is 100% preventable, and swim lessons are available," said Rebekah Craig, the founder of Aqua Angels, a nonprofit focused on swimming safety.Julia Gilchrist, with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, said having a life jacket can be huge, especially in larger bodies of water. "Lifejackets are great because they provide that buoyancy that if you are not a strong swimmer, that if you are caught in a current or some unfamiliar body of water and are getting tired. It provides you that buoyancy until someone can find you or you can get to a side and get out of that situation," Gilchrist said.However, nothing beats learning how to swim. This includes treading water, swimming for at least 25 yards without a break, and being able to jump in and get out with ease. "If you can't do those things then I recommend swimming lessons. Like I said, if it's you as an adult or your child, niece, nephew something like that, they also need to take swimming lessons," Craig said. Reynolds said while there is not one specific thing you can fall back on, some can help, like learning how to float. Also, make sure a lifeguard is on duty and they are CPR certified. Finally, learning to control your breathing during an intense situation could make a difference."Swim lessons become an insurance to make sure that you are able to have tools in your tool belt to help yourself. If you get into a situation that you can't control," Reynolds said.
May is National Water Safety Month. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury or death around the world.
Local swim instructors believe that without the right training or safety equipment, things can take a turn very quickly.
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"Water is a huge force that can go badly very quickly. So being able to be comfortable and confident in the water makes the difference between having fun and if something happens, having tools in the tool belt to know what to do if the situation arises that you need help," said Carla Reynolds, founder of Swim Savvy, an aquatic swim lesson company in South Carolina.
"When it’s something that is 100%, drowning is 100% preventable, and swim lessons are available," said Rebekah Craig, the founder of Aqua Angels, a nonprofit focused on swimming safety.
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Julia Gilchrist, with the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, said having a life jacket can be huge, especially in larger bodies of water.
"Lifejackets are great because they provide that buoyancy that if you are not a strong swimmer, that if you are caught in a current or some unfamiliar body of water and are getting tired. It provides you that buoyancy until someone can find you or you can get to a side and get out of that situation," Gilchrist said.
However, nothing beats learning how to swim. This includes treading water, swimming for at least 25 yards without a break, and being able to jump in and get out with ease.
"If you can't do those things then I recommend swimming lessons. Like I said, if it's you as an adult or your child, niece, nephew something like that, they also need to take swimming lessons," Craig said.
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Reynolds said while there is not one specific thing you can fall back on, some can help, like learning how to float. Also, make sure a lifeguard is on duty and they are CPR certified. Finally, learning to control your breathing during an intense situation could make a difference.
"Swim lessons become an insurance to make sure that you are able to have tools in your tool belt to help yourself. If you get into a situation that you can't control," Reynolds said.
