Tragedies happen all the time. Even though you may not think it could ever happen to you or your family, there is always the possibility of a water disaster occurring. Staying safe around water is essential for all people. Water is a powerful natural source that is full of beauty, but it can also lead to disaster if not respected in the right way.
Unfortunately, many people every year suffer from accidents or injuries in the water. In fact, according to the CDC, “From 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal unintentional drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States — about ten deaths per day.” This is why learning proper life-saving procedures, such as CPR, is extremely important. Lifesaving CPR techniques can be learned in different ways, but one of the most popular these days is through an online certification course.
In this article, we will discuss what CPR is and what is taught in a CPR course. Additionally, we will offer our top tips for staying safe around water. Hopefully, you can avoid ever having an emergency involving water, but if one does occur, having CPR knowledge will be very valuable. Continue reading for our top tips on how to stay safe around water and how to utilize CPR if you do end up in an emergency situation.
What is CPR?
Before we get into our top tips for how to stay safe around water, it’s important to take the time to understand CPR. CPR, or cardiopulmonary resuscitation, is the process of administering lifesaving support to someone suffering from a cardiac emergency or someone who has stopped breathing.
CPR procedures are very old, and they have been used effectively for many years. People who are certified in CPR procedures are prepared to offer resuscitative efforts to others when their hearts have stopped or when they can no longer breathe.
CPR certification is available to everyone, and there are many online classes available to help people get their certifications easily and with flexibility. Some of the important lifesaving skills you will learn in a CPR certification course include:
- Determining when an emergency is occurring
- Evaluating the surroundings for safety
- Calling emergency services for assistance
- Determining if someone is choking
- Removing foreign objects from a blocked airway
- Using an AED (automated external defibrillator)
- Administering high-quality chest compressions
- Administering rescue breaths
- Providing post-resuscitation support
These different steps are actually quite simple, but they are essential when it comes to saving a life, especially in the case of heart failure or when someone cannot breathe, such as when they’re drowning.
Staying Safe Around Water
While CPR procedures are very important, the first step to being safe is using cation. Especially when it comes to water, it’s essential that you and your loved ones follow critical safety tips in order to avoid emergencies whenever possible. Thus, we have compiled our top tips for staying safe while enjoying the water:
- Don’t Consume Drugs or Alcohol: One of the most important things to remember when it comes to water safety is to avoid drugs or alcohol when swimming—many people associate summer swimming fun with other leisurely activities, such as drinking. However, while this may seem like a good time, it can actually be extremely dangerous. When you swim after ingesting drugs or alcohol, your reflexes will naturally be dulled. This means that you may a mistake more easily than if you were sober.
- Don’t Dive Into Unfamiliar Areas: Additionally, while it can be exciting to explore new areas, it’s important to not act wreckless around water that you’re unfamiliar with. Especially when it comes to diving, it’s essential that you don’t dive into any areas that are not well-known or that don’t have proper visibility. Remember that there can always be hidden dangers underwater, especially in natural locations such as cliffs, which are popular jump spots. There can be rocks and other dangerous unknowns that can be hidden beneath the surface, so always make sure you’re familiar with your surroundings and the potential dangers before diving.
- Use Safety Covers on Your Home Pool: Moreover, it’s important to maintain a sense of safety at all times. This means that you must also cover your pool when it’s not in use, especially at night. Remember that small children can easily suffer from accidents or injuries when it comes to swimming. Thus, it’s very important that you cover your home pool with a safety covering so that no one can fall in accidentally.
- Don’t Get Rough with Others: Furthermore, people can easily suffer from accidental drowning if someone around them is playing rough. Usually, this is innocent fun, but it can turn tragic if a mistake is made.
- Don’t Enter the Water if You Cannot Swim: Finally, it’s very essential that you don’t go in the water if you cannot swim. While this may be tempting, it can be very dangerous. If you can’t swim, sign up for a local class at the YMCA or another community area that can help you learn the basics. This will help keep you safe in the future.
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There are many ways that CPR can help keep everyone safe. One of the times when CPR comes in handy the most is when someone is drowning. However, while CPR procedures are very important, the best course of action is to make sure that you know how to stay safe around water. Avoid careless mistakes when it comes to water safety by making sure that you don’t dive into unknown areas or play rough with others. Additionally, make sure that you’re keeping your home pool covered safely and that you don’t go into the water if you cannot swim properly. These tips will help keep you safe and hopefully help you and your loved ones avoid the need for CPR.