Memorial Day Safety Tips

By Carly Flumer, Volunteer

Fire up the grills and take a splash into the deep end! Memorial Day is coming! The Red Cross wants to make sure you have a safe holiday by following these simple tips:

ROAD TRIP!

• If you plan on taking a road trip to see family or even down to the beach, make sure you pack the essentials, including extra cash, emergency phone numbers, and a first aid kit. If your neighbor plans on staying home for the holiday, let them know that you’ll be out of town so that they may act a friendly “neighbor watch.”
• Make sure your car is in good-working order if you plan to travel far and that it has enough gas before you hit the road.
• Remember to buckle up and pay attention to the roads at all times, especially if you’re driving with loved ones. If you plan on drinking, have a designated driver.

MAKE A SPLASH!

• Memorial Day marks the opening day of the pool season! Make sure you pack extra sunscreen and a hat, especially if you plan on going out around when the suns rays are at its peak – between 10am – 3pm
• Remember to not run around the pool area, especially when there are smaller kids and it’s more likely when someone can get hurt
• Ask a lifeguard for help if you feel that you are in danger. Supervise your children at all times.
• If you or your child need swimming lessons, the Red Cross offers classes throughout the region. Find your local class here: www.redcross.org/take-a-class

BBQ PARTY!

• Make sure every part of the grill is in proper working order and is not damaged, including the hose and the propane tank.
• Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.
• Supervise the grill at all times to avoid overcooking food, and more importantly, to make sure no one gets hurt, especially if children and pets are around.
• Never grill indoors. Grill outside, and make sure it has plenty of open space around it and cannot come into contact with anything flammable, such as surrounding trees.
• Use long-handled tools and oven mitts.
• Keep the grill covered when not in use.

For more information on how to keep safe this holiday, click here or, visit www.redcross.org.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Water Safety Month: Summer Safety

By Rose Ellen O'Connor, Volunteer

I didn’t know how close I was to drowning.

Pictured: Volunteer Rose Ellen (left) and
her daughter, Katie Rose.

Ten-years-old, slathered with suntan lotion, I was paddling out to sea on an oversized beachball, relishing the bumpy waves and the alone time. I’m the fifth of six siblings. All of a sudden, I heard a lifeguard say, “Hold on, Honey.” He handed me an innertube and began dragging me back to shore.  When I turned around I was amazed at how far I had drifted out. It seemed each time he pulled me closer to the shore, a wave would take us back out.

Finally, after a 10-minute struggle, he got me back to shore. I was embarrassed to see people standing in the sand as far as I could see watching my rescue. But it could have been a lot worse. I could have drowned. I had violated at least two of Red Cross’s water safety rules. I had swum without a buddy, who might have noticed how far out we were getting, and I’d gone far out of the designated safety area for the beach.

According to a survey released by the Red Cross last month, nearly half of all Americans said they have had an occasion where they thought they might drown. Yet they said they are going to engage in risky behaviors this summer that put them again at risk of drowning. Just over 60 percent of families with children said they plan on swimming in areas unsupervised by life guards even though 50 percent have never had swimming lessons.

Two thirds of those surveyed said they thought that putting inflatable arm bands or “water wings” on children is enough to keep them safe. To be truly safe, children and inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard approved life jackets. Children should always be closely supervised by adults.

Nine out of 10 survey respondents were unsure what to do if someone appears to be drowning. The Red Cross says the correct steps in order are to shout for help, throw the person a flotation device and tell them to grab it and then call 9-1-1 if needed.

Water aficionados should know the signs of a swimmer in distress. According to the Red Cross, they are:

• Treading water and waving an arm
• Doggie paddling with no forward progress
• Hanging onto a safety line
• Floating on back and waving arms
• Arms extended side or front, pressing down for support, but making no forward progress
• Positioned vertically in the water, but not kicking legs
• Underwater for more than 30 seconds
• Floating at surface, face-down, for more than 30 seconds

Here are some safety tips from the Red Cross:

• Swim in areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always sSwimwim with a buddy.
• Never leave a young child unattended around water.
• Even if you don’t plan on swimming, be careful around natural bodies of water, including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous. 
• When boating, wear a life jacket.
• Avoid alcohol use.

The Red Cross offers swimming lessons for those aged six months to adults. The lessons offer a lifetime of safe and confident swimming. For more information contact the training support center at 1-800-RED-CROSS or support@redcrosstraining.org. You can also ask about Red Cross swimming lessons at your local aquatic center or your local Red Cross chapter.

Water Safety Month: Swim Classes and Safety

Written by: Carly Flumer, Volunteer

May is a time when the sun shines a little longer, the flowers are in bloom, anxious kids are getting ready for summer, and, of course, the pool opens! May is recognized as Summer Safety and Water Safety Month, and it’s the perfect time for both kids and adults to learn how to swim and a time to learn the basics of water safety. 

Swimming classes are taught at aquatic facilities all across the country by caring, patient, and trained instructors who are dedicated to each student, beginning by starting with the basics and then moving towards stroke refinement, all while providing a safe and comfortable environment. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to renew your skills, the Red Cross offers classes designed for all ages and levels to become comfortable in and around the water, learn new strokes, and ultimately become safer swimmers.

Additionally, for those who want to practice on their own, the Red Cross provides a free app that includes educational games, videos, and a swim lesson progress tracker!

To learn more about our programs, follow these links:

• To find a swim class near you: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming/learn-to-swim-providers
• To find out what to expect at your child’s swimming lesson: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming/swim-lessons/kids-swim-lessons
• To find out what to expect at an adult’s swimming lesson: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming/swim-lessons/adult-swim-lessons
• To download the free Red Cross Swim App: http://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps

Here are some tips that the Red Cross recommends to families whether at the local pool or beach:

• Only swim in areas that are monitored by lifeguards
• Swim with a friend
• Do not leave a child unattended by water, even if they’re wearing a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket
• Always maintain supervision
• Make sure everyone in your family knows how to swim. Swimming lessons are offered by the Red Cross at many local facilities across the country. Find out more information here: https://www.redcross.org/take-a-class/swimming/swim-lessons
• Know when to call 9-1-1 in an emergency
• Enroll in a Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to respond to emergencies
• Remember to protect your skin using sunscreen and limit the amount of sun your body intakes between the peak hours of 10:00am and 4:00pm

At the beach, remember to:

• Check conditions before entering the water, including weather conditions and flags placed by lifeguards
• Stay at least 100 feet away from piers and jetties
• If someone is in danger get help from a lifeguard. If one is not in sight, call 9-1-1.
• Never fight a current.
• Swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current. Then turn and swim towards the shore. If you can’t swim towards the shore, float until you are free and then head towards the shore.
• Never dive headfirst. Look for obstructions around you first.

Wishing everyone a great and safe start to the 2018 pool and beach season 😊