MACDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- In a state surrounded by water on three sides, water based activities are both popular and abundant. While many of these activities, such as swimming and kayaking, are popular ways to relax and keep cool during the summer, safety must be the top priority for service members and their families.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning constitutes the fifth leading cause of unintentional death in the United States. However, this statistic only reflects a portion of water related incidents; head and spinal cord injuries are equally serious mishaps that can occur in and around water.
Despite these potential risks, Dannys Marrero, a lifeguard at the MacDill Pool, explained there are many ways for people to safely enjoy a day on the water. The key is awareness and prevention.
“Even though the MacDill Pool hasn’t had any incidents, drowning is always a concern for young kids and weak swimmers,” said Marrero. “Weak swimmers can wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation device and stay away from the deep end, but the best way to prevent drowning is by learning to swim.”
For MacDill resident April Karis, swim lessons, which teach both swim proficiency and water safety skills, are one of the many ways she keeps her young daughter safe around water.
“My daughter has taken swim lessons, but since she’s still learning I always watch and ensure she stays within the shallow area,” said Karis.
Although inexperienced swimmers and young children are most at risk of drowning, even confident swimmers must be cognizant of their limits and surroundings, especially in large bodies of water such as oceans and lakes.
“Oceans and lakes are different than pools,” explained Joseph Duftie, lifeguard training and water safety instructor at the MacDill Pool. “In addition to tides and currents that can suddenly change, you can’t always tell how deep the water is.”
“You can’t control the water or the weather at the beach, but you can use good judgment,” said Duftie. “Go to places with adequate lifeguard coverage and pay attention to your limits.”
A day on the water, albeit a fun summertime activity, involves a certain level of risk. Adherence to safety guidelines and one’s limits, coupled with proper prevention, are ways for service members and their families to mitigate these risks and safely enjoy Florida’s many water based activities.