Beacon Watch

boats, safety, sports

Swimming

From swimming pools to a day on the lake—water offer endless recreation for people of all ages. However, it should not be ignored that, without proper care, water can present a serious danger to young children. It is very important, therefore, for parents to understand the basics of water safety both for themselves and for the children. Read on to learn more about how you can keep your children safe around water.

General Rules

  • Young children should always wear a lifejacket when in or around water.
  • Young children should always be supervised by an adult when in or around water.
  • These rules apply to even the smallest bodies of water, such as kiddie pools.

Rules for Boating

  • When it comes to boating, it is important for parents to remember that young children should wear their lifejackets, fully latched and properly placed, at all times. Though it is not always mandatory for adults to wear lifejackets, you may wish to consider wearing yours at all times in order to set a good example (and to keep yourself safe.)

Rules for the Pool

  • Backyard swimming pools must always be surrounded by a fence that prevents young children from entering unsupervised. This is one of the most important steps you can take in order to prevent drowning. NEVER allow you child to go near water unsupervised!
  • Spas and hot tubs are unsafe for young children as they can cause rapid overheating.

On Swimming Lessons

  • For children 5 years of age and older, swimming lessons are an important part of water safety. For children aged 1-4, water exposure and swimming lessons can make a difference, but parents should always assume that such children have zero swimming ability in order to prevent a dangerous situation.

Learn more…

With proper attention to safety, water recreation can be safe and fun for everyone! For more water safety information, visit the Beacon-Watch blog.

  Because no boat is entirely trustworthy—think of the Titanic—even if you are the greatest boater in the world, you may one day need to be able to survive in the water without it. This is why one of the most important aspects of boating safety actually has nothing to do with boats. Swimming is one of the most crucial skills to a safe boater, and, of all of the different methods of staying afloat, treading water may be the most useful to a boater. This is because rather than trying to swim to the shore, the passenger of a capsized boat is typically simply waiting where he or she is in order to be rescued. Below are 5 steps on how to tread water efficiently and correctly.

  • Do not try to swim. When swimming, you turn your body horizontally in the water and kick your legs. However, when treading water, you keep your body upright and use both your arms and legs.
  • Move your arms horizontally, and your legs back and forth in a circular motion.
  • Do not panic. Additionally, continue breathing normally. Panicking and hyperventilating can only waste your energy and make it more difficult to actually stay above the water.
  • Lie on your back if you are having trouble staying afloat in the normal position. This will also become difficult after a while, but it uses different muscles and different technique than regular water treading, so it may help you rest and stay afloat longer.
  • Use anything around you to stay afloat. This may seem like a no-brainer, but if you happen to see any floating debris—wood, garbage, etc—in the water, do not hesitate to grab onto it.

Looking for more ways to stay safe while boating? Check out BeaconWatch today for state of the art boating safety solutions.

Believe it or not, there are a surprising number of adults out there who have yet to learn how to swim. If you find yourself among that group, you may feel that it is already too late, or that learning how to swim simply isn’t worth the trouble. Perhaps you really do wish to learn how to swim, you’ve just always procrastinated, and now you don’t know how to start. Whatever the case may be, we’re here to tell you: learning is always possible!

Just in case you need a bit of motivation, here are four great reasons to learn how to swim!

  1. Fun. First of all, swimming can be a lot of fun! From enjoying a quick dip on a hot summer day, to competing in swimming competitions—there are so many opportunities to enjoy your newfound skill of swimming. This alone is plenty of reason to learn!
  2. Safety. On a more serious note, learning how to swim is one of the most important steps you can take in order to stay safe around bodies of water. Additionally, learning how to swim will put you in a better position to help those around you should an emergency situation ever arise.
  3. Health. Swimming is a fantastic form of exercise that works the entire body. Moreover, it doesn’t place stress on the ligaments in the way that other popular forms of cardiovascular exercise such as running do.
  4. Challenge Yourself. We should all be lifelong learners: it allows us to enjoy the richest life experience possible. Taking on the challenge of learning how to swim is a great way to expand your world!

If you’re ready to get started on the new adventure of learning how to swim, we recommend that you find an organization such as your local YMCA that offers a place to practice (and lessons if you so prefer.) Meanwhile, research always helps. Visit the Beacon-Watch blog for a plethora of water safety information!

Why Learn Different Swimming Strokes?

As you could probably guess, learning how to swim proficiently is one of the most important steps you can take in order to be safer in the water. According to the organization USA Swimming, formal swimming lessons dramatically decrease the risk of drowning—especially for young children. This fact highlights the importance of learning how to swim, and learning how to swim well! How can one improve their swimming even after mastering “the basics?” One recommendation that is particularly rewarding is learning new swimming strokes!

4 Reasons to Learn New Swimming Strokes

  1. Swimming several different strokes works different sets of muscles. This allows swimming to be a more complete workout. Additionally, it eases excessive stress on any one set of muscles, thus reducing the risk of a swimming related injury.
  2. Switching between strokes can decrease fatigue when swimming long distances.
  3. Each stroke offers its own advantages. Freestyle is the fastest style, for example; whereas breaststroke offers better visibility. See the list below for more information on different strokes.
  4. Learning different strokes adds more variety to your swimming routine and makes swimming more fun!

4 Basic Strokes to Learn

  1. Freestyle.  As mentioned before, this is the fastest style, and one of the most common. In this style, the arms rotate with hard, above water stokes while the legs perform a flutter kick.
  2. Breaststroke.  Another of the most popular swim strokes. The odds are good that when you learned to swim, you either learned freestyle or breast stroke. In the breast stroke, both arms make circles underwater rather than moving above water; which makes the style slower, but also much calmer.
  3. Backstroke.  The name is pretty self-explanatory—this is a common stroke that involves swimming on one’s back. It is one of the most distinct style of swimming, and offers the advantage of working a different set of muscles from most other strokes.
  4. Sidestroke.  This stroke, which utilizes underwater motion of one arm as the swimmer lies on his/her side, is the preferred method of lifeguards as it leaves one arm free to assist other swimmers.

For more water safety tips, visit Beacon-Watch.com!

Tips for Swimming in Natural Bodies of Water

Though caution must always be exercised when swimming, there are special precautions to be taken when swimming in a natural body of water as opposed to in a pool or in other “controlled” bodies of water.  In fact, the American Red Cross includes a special section of their water safety webpage reminding swimmers of exactly that. Here are a few important tips to keep in mind when you do swim in lakes, oceans, rivers, etc.

  • Avoid Swimming Alone.  One way to greatly reduce the risks associated with swimming is through the buddy system.  If someone nearby knows that you are swimming, they will  be able to react should you need help.  Ideally, of course, swimming should only be done in areas that are patrolled by a lifeguard.
  • Beware Unseen Dangers.  Objects underwater such as rocks, broken glass, or even water-critters are oftentimes difficult to see, so it’s important to be aware of your surroundings.  It is also very important to avoid diving in areas that you do not know well, as hidden sandbars, rocks, etc. can cause serious or even fatal injuries.
  • Watch out for Currents.  Natural bodies of water often present some form of current–be it the movement of a river or the riptide of an ocean or lake.  These can make swimming extremely challenging, so it’s important to pay attention and play it safe.
  • Extreme Conditions Call for Extreme Precautions.  Cold water can cause rapid fatigue and even hypothermia. Hot conditions and direct sunlight can also cause fatigue or even heatstroke.  Storms can turn even the calmest bodies of water treacherous. Be sure to check the forecast and plan accordingly.
  • Heed all Posted Signs.  At many beaches, posted signs will alert you to any specific hazards.  Be sure to keep an eye out for them and to obey their instructions.

Visit the Beacon Watch blog for more safety tips, or visit our online store for a selection of important water safety equipment such as the SeaMe Beacon.

3 Tips for Learning How to Swim

If you’re an adult who has never learned how to swim, don’t worry–you’re not alone.  According to a recent article published in Time Magazine, only 56% of Americans were able to pass a basic swimming exam that tested 5 core competencies.  Thankfully, learning to swim is much easier than you may think–and it can even be a lot of fun.  There are so many reasons to learn–ranging from improved health, to boosted self-confidence, to the ability to develop a lifelong hobby.  As a part of our commitment to improving water safety for everyone, Beacon Watch would also like to point out safety as another very important reason to learn.  That’s why we’re presenting these 3 tips for learning how to swim.

#1: Get Used to the Water!

The most effective way to learn swimming is by feeling comfortable and having fun.  (In fact, I would venture to say that is the most effective way to learn just about anything!)  That’s why an important first step should be simply getting used to the water.  Get into the shallow end of the pool (where you can still easily stand) and enjoy wading around.  Eventually, you’ll want to practice submerging yourself up to your neck, holding your breath underwater, and lifting both feet off the ground at the same time.  This will go a long way towards helping you feel more relaxed throughout the process.

#2: Find a Swimming Buddy

Once you’re ready to start practicing, it’s a good idea to bring a friend along.  Not only is this an important safety measure, it will also make the whole process a lot more fun.  Last but not least, you will have an experienced partner who can help point out areas for improvement in your form.

#3: Never Give Up!

Swimming, like most other sports, is very rewarding–but does require a bit of hard work.  The most important advice anyone can give, therefore, is to stay committed! You’ll be glad you did!

 

For more information on water and ski safety, check out the Beacon Watch website today!