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What types of knowledge can you learn to develop those skills needed to become better
prepared to deal with events that may happen while you are at the beach. In short, KNOW HOW TO BE SAFE AROUND THE WATER. |
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Learn Basic Life Support If Someone needs aquatic rescue: |
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Learn to Swim | ||||||||
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The best thing anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim.
Local chapters of the American Red Cross, as well as local community and private swimming
pools, have courses for people of any age and swimming ability. Enroll in a course to
learn or improve your ability to swim. |
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Never Swim Alone! | ||||||||
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Always swim with a buddy. No matter how good of a swimmer you are, sometimes things
happen that you can not handle alone. |
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Know your swimming limits! | ||||||||
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Don't try to keep up with a stronger, more skilled swimmer or encourage others to keep
up with you. |
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Swim in supervised areas! | ||||||||
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Remember, lifeguards are there to help you. They are professionals that know the conditions
and hazards that may be present in the area you want to swim in. Always follow their
instructions and warnings to help prevent any incidents from marring your time at the
beach. |
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Obey all warning signs and flags! | ||||||||
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Always be on the lookout for any warning signs, or flags, that may be posted at the beach
and follow their instructions. Warnings are posted to inform you of conditions that may
seriously affect your safety and should always be obeyed. One warning sign the is often
ignored is when there is dangerous levels of bacteria in the water and the authorities
decide to close the beach. After a heavy rain or sewage spill the levels of bacteria may
rise to exceptionally high levels which may present a serious health risk to anyone in
the water so you should always obey the instructions posted on the sign. At some locations, flags are posted to indicate the current conditions.
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Watch out for the 'dangerous too's' | ||||||||
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Too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, or too much strenuous activity.
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Don't chew gum or eat while you swim! | ||||||||
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Swimming while you are chewing gum or have other things in your mouth could cause you to
start choking and could lead to a very serious incident. |
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Use common sense about swimming after eating! | ||||||||
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In general, you do not have to wait an hour after eating before you may safely swim.
However, if you have had a large meal, it is wise to let digestion get started before
doing strenuous activity such as swimming. |
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Know the local conditions! | ||||||||
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Take the time to check the local conditions before you go in the water. Often times they
are affected by weather, or other, conditions far out in the ocean or by unseen changes
to the ocean bottom. By checking with the lifeguards, or other knowledgeable individuals,
you can find out if there are any dangerous conditions present before you find out the
hard way. Knowing the water temperature and quality, high and low tides, wind and swell
direction, surf conditions, and other information concerning the ocean will make for safer
decisions on what you do at the beach. |
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Know how to prevent, recognize, and respond to emergencies! | ||||||||
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Remember to always CHECK-CALL-CARE: CHECK the scene to ensure it's safe and CHECK the victim. CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. CARE for the person until help arrives. |
The California Junior Lifeguard Programs are not affiliated with the California State Parks
Copyright © 1997-2008 California Junior Lifeguard Programs - All Rights Reserved
Please direct suggestions or comments concerning this site to:
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Last Update: November 15th, 2007
