Water safety
Before 1945, life-guarding was confined to a few counties in Ireland that is in Wexford, Waterford, Cork, Dulin and Clare! Indeed the teaching of swi""ing and water safety as we know it was done on an ad hoc asis around the country, ut "ostly in the cities of Dulin and Cork where indoor swi""ing #ools were a$ailale! It was only when a "e"er of %n &arda '(och)na, *r! +arry &illes#ie who was Chair"an of a s"all Water 'afety Co""ittee in County Clare decided to a##roach the Irish .ed Cross 'ociety in *ay 1945, that Water 'afety was estalished in Ireland on a for"al asis! /nder the aus#ices of the Irish .ed Cross 'ociety, local %rea Water 'afety Co""ittees were estalished in all of the counties of Ireland! 0aturally, there was $ery little ex#ertise in this country in the "atter of water safety and swi""ing rescue, so it was decided that the %"erican .ed Cross should e a##roached as they had an excellent Water 'afety 'er$ice running in the /'% for "any years! ro" the", ca"e the necessary a##roach to teaching water safety, then generally known as s wi""ing rescue! 2heir ooklets were also used as the ases for the first water safety "anuals #ulished y the Irish .ed Cross 'ociety Water 'afety 'er$ice!
The Irish Water Safety Motto: 3$ery erson a 'wi""er and $ery erson a 6ifesa$er3!
Know your limits. Swimming limits. Swimming can be a lot of fun — and you might want to stay in the water as long as possible. If you're not a good swimmer or you're just learning to swim, don't go in water that's so deep you can't touch the bottom and don't t ry to keep up with skilled swimmers. That can be hard, especially when your friends are challenging you — but it's a pretty sure bet they'd rather have you safe and alive. Swim in safe areas only. It's only. It's a good idea to swim only in places that are supervised by a lifeguard. o one can anticipate changing ocean currents, rip currents, sudden storms, or other hidden dangers. In the event that something does go wrong, lifeguards are trained in rescue techni!ues.
Water Safety Tips Tips from the Pool Pool Safely "Simple Steps Save Lives" Program 1. Staying close, being alert and watching children in and around the pool
Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water Teach T each children children basic water water safety safety tips Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa
If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa rst
Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors
2. Learning and and practicing water safety safety skills earn how to swim and teach your child how to swim earn to perform !"# on children and adults, and update those skills regularly $nderstand the basics of life%saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency
3. Having appropriate equipent for your pool or spa spa Install a four%foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and use self%
closing and self%latching gates& ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools' Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa'
If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install door alarms and always use them' (or additional protection, install window guards on
windows facing pools or spas' Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water )nsure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask your
pool service provider if you do not know *aintain pool and spa covers in good working order
!onsider using a surface wave or underwater alarm
Water 'afety
Be Water %ware 'wi""ing is one of life7s great #leasures! It offers "any health and fitness enefits, cools you off in the su""er, and #ro$ides a great o##ortunity to sociali8e with fa"ily and friends! *ake sure you and yours stay safe in the water y eing water aware!
Learn to swim Swimming Lessons Save Lives! Lives ! 2he est thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swi"! 2his includes oth adults and children!
Never leave children unattended arents are the first line of defense in kee#ing kids safe in the water! 0e$er lea$e children unattended near water, water, not e$en for a "inute! If your child7s in the water, you should e too:
Read all posted signs ollow #osted safety rules and warnings! 2each kids that eing safe in and around the water is a #ersonal res#onsiility - yours and theirs!
Never swim alone or in unsupervised places 2each your children to always swi" with a uddy!
Wear a life jacet If you or a fa"ily "e"er is a weak or non-swi""er, wear wear a life $est! It7s nothing to e e"arrassed aout and "any facilities #ro$ide the" at no charge!
Loo for lifeguards It is always est to swi" in an area su#er$ised y lifeguards, ut re"e"er, re"e"er, 6ifeguards are the last line of defense when all other layers of #rotection fail!
!on"t drin alcohol %$oid alcoholic alcoholic e$erages e$erages efore or during during swi""ing, oating oating or water-skiing! water-skiing! 0e$er drink alcohol while su#er$ising children around water! 2each teenagers aout the danger of drinking alcohol while swi""ing, oating or water skiing!
Spit it out 2each kids not to drink the #ool water! 2o #re$ent choking, ne$er chew gu" or eat while swi""ing, di$ing or #laying in water! water!
#void water wings Do not use air-filled swi""ing aids such as 3water wings3 in #lace of life ;ackets or life #reser$ers with children! children! /sing air-filled air-filled swi""ing aids can can gi$e #arents and children a false sense of security, which "ay increase the risk of drowning! 2hese air-filled aids are toys and are not designed to e #ersonalflotation de$ices! %fter %fter all, air-filled #lastic tues can deflate ecause they can eco"e #unctured or un#lugged!
$hec the water depth 2he %"erican %"erican .ed Cross reco""ends 9 feet as a "ini"u" de#th for di$ing or ;u"#ing!
Watch out for the dangerous %toos% Don7t get too tired, too cold, too far fro" safety, ex#osed to too "uch sun or ex#erience too "uch strenuous acti$ity! acti$ity!
Note the weather ay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts! 'to# swi""ing at the first indication of ad weather! weather!
&se sunscreen %##ly sunscreen sunscreen on all ex#osed ex#osed skin to ensure ensure "axi"u" skin #rotection! +ats, $isors and shirts are reco""ended to #re$ent o$erex#osure!
!on"t tae riss Don7t take chances y o$eresti"ating your swi""ing skills!
'eep toddlers in shallow play areas
(ollow age ) height instructions at waterpar w aterpars s .estrictions a##ly to "any rides in a water#ark! 'i8e and coordination is critical to safety inside o#en water flu"es!
Watch water depth When you go fro" one water#ark attraction to another, note that the water de#th "ay e different and the attraction should e used in a different way!
Warn ids a*out swallowing par water Chlorine and water #+ readings are usually #osted at large water#arks!
&se plastic swim diapers *any #arks re=uire the"! 0ote where changing areas are located and use these designated, saniti8ed changing s#ots!
Notice health restrictions &uests with neck or ack #role"s, heart conditions, #re$alence toward "otion sickness or #regnancy "ay not ride high-s#eed or ra#id-descent rides!