As the summer heats up, many like to cool down by taking a swim. Before jumping into those cool waters, check out these water safety tips from The University of Alabama’s Dr. Brian Gannon.
- Never leave children unattended around water. Make sure there is always supervision from an adult who knows how to swim.
- Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties.” They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children and parents a false sense of security.
- When on boats or near bodies of water, children should always wear life jackets. Make sure the life jacket is the right size for the child; the jacket should not be loose and should always be worn as instructed with all straps securely belted.
- You probably remember being told not to go into the water too soon after eating. The reality is that when you are digesting food, there is less blood flow in the body, which can diminish your strength and make it hard to swim. The best bet is to wait half an hour after eating before getting back into the water.
- Do not chew gum while you could swim because you could choke.
- Swimmer’s ear is an inflammation or infection of the ear canal. The condition is called swimmer’s ear because it commonly occurs in people who have been swimming, when water or sand irritates the skin of the ear canal. Swimmer’s ear can be painful; other symptoms including itching, a feeling of fullness in the ear or a discharge of fluid from the ear. If you think you have swimmer’s ear, contact your doctor about the best way to treat it.
- When outdoors and in the water, wear a broad-spectrum, water-resistant sunscreen. Do not forget to apply sunscreen to feet, ears and lips, and it should be reapplied every two hours. Sunscreens should be up to SPF 50 and protect against both UVA and UVB rays.
Gannon is an assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at the College of Community Health Sciences.
