Be Safe in and around the Water

A recent American Red Cross survey* shows that almost half the adults surveyed on water safety say they’ve had an experience where they nearly drowned, and one in four know someone who has drowned.

While over 90% of families with young children will be in the water at some point this summer, almost half (48%) plan to swim in a place with no lifeguard.

With so many planning to be in, on or near the water, it is important to follow the basics of water safety, maintain constant supervision of children and to get trained!

Practice Water Safety
• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
• Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child;
teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets
around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.

Maintain Constant Supervision
• If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers—many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than 5 minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
• Actively supervise children whenever around water—even if lifeguards are present. Always stay within arm’s reach of young children.
• Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.

Know How to Respond to an Aquatic Emergency
• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Enroll in Red Cross water safety, first aid and CPR courses to learn how to respond.
• Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.

What You Should Do
• Print and circulate this flyer at your pool, community center and beach bulletin boards.
• Visit RedCross.org for more swimming and water safety tips.
• Contact your local Red Cross chapter to find out which aquatic facilities in your area offer Red Cross courses, and sign up!

Be Safe in the Summer Heat

In recent years, excessive heat has caused more deaths than all other
weather events, including floods. A heat wave is a prolonged period of
excessive heat, often combined with excessive humidity. Generally
temperatures are 10 degrees or more above the average high temperature for the region during summer months, last for a long period of time and occur with high humidity as well.

What to do During A Heatwave
• Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio for critical updates from the National
Weather Service (NWS).
• Never leave children or pets alone in enclosed vehicles.
• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids even if you do not feel thirsty.
Avoid drinks with caffeine or alcohol.
• Eat small meals and eat more often.
• Avoid extreme temperature changes.
• Wear loose-fitting, lightweight, lightcolored clothing. Avoid dark colors
because they absorb the sun’s rays.
• Slow down, stay indoors and avoid strenuous exercise during the hottest
part of the day.
• Postpone outdoor games and activities.
• Use a buddy system when working in excessive heat.
• Take frequent breaks if you must work outdoors.
• Check on family, friends and neighbors who do not have air conditioning, who
spend much of their time alone or who are more likely to be affected by the
heat.
• Check on your animals frequently to ensure that they are not suffering from
the heat.

Recognize & care for heat-related emergencies …

Heat cramps are muscular pains and spasms that usually occur in the legs or
abdomen caused by exposure to high heat and humidity and loss of fluids and
electrolytes. Heat cramps are often an early sign that the body is having trouble
with the heat.

Heat exhaustion typically involves the loss of body fluids through heavy sweating
during strenuous exercise or physical labor in high heat and humidity.

• Signs of heat exhaustion include cool, moist, pale or flushed skin; heavy
sweating; headache; nausea; dizziness; weakness; and exhaustion.
• Move the person to a cooler place. Remove or loosen tight clothing and
apply cool, wet cloths or towels to the skin. Fan the person. If the person is
conscious, give small amounts of cool water to drink. Make sure the person
drinks slowly. Watch for changes in condition.
• If the person refuses water, vomits or begins to lose consciousness, call 9-1-1
or the local emergency number. Heat stroke (also known as sunstroke) is a life-threatening condition in which a person’s temperature control system stops
working and the body is unable to cool itself.
• Signs of heat stroke include hot, red skin which may be dry or moist; changes in consciousness; vomiting; and high body temperature.
• Heat stroke is life-threatening. Call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number
immediately.
• Move the person to a cooler place. Quickly cool the person’s body by giving
care as you would for heat exhaustion. If needed, continue rapid cooling by
applying ice or cold packs wrapped in a cloth to the wrists, ankles, groin, neck
and armpits.

Know the Difference

Excessive Heat Watch—Conditions are favorable for an excessive heat event to meet or exceed local Excessive Heat Warning criteria in the next 24 to 72 hours.

Excessive Heat Warning—Heat Index values are forecast to meet or exceed locally defined warning criteria for at least 2 days (daytime highs=105-110° Fahrenheit).

Heat Advisory—Heat Index values are forecast to meet locally defined advisory criteria for 1 to 2 days (daytime highs=100-105° Fahrenheit).