Drowning Can Be Silent: Water Safety Awareness

The warm weather in Charleston calls for trips to pools and beaches in order to cool off from the summertime heat. While the water can be refreshing for some, for others it can be potentially deadly. State Representatives have announced that from the year 2001 to 2010, there have been 223 individuals that have drowned in the state of South Carolina.

For this reason, South Carolina Representative, Wendell Gilliard has been working on getting the month of May declared, “Water Safety Month.” The younger a child learns to swim, the better, and by taking some form of organized swimming lesson, they are 80 percent less likely to drown.

What to expect if a child is struggling in the water?

• You don’t hear it. Drowning can be silent.
• Movement going forward stops, they’ll go from being horizontal to vertical.
• Then they’ll go into short choppy movements.

Drowning can be prevented, and one way to do so is to make sure that your pool has all of the necessary equipment. This includes childproof fencing or pool covers, which are essential for keeping out young people who aren’t ready to be in the water by themselves. Signs, such as “Pool Rules”, “No lifeguard on duty” and “No Diving” can also help prevent both drowning and injuries. It’s also important to keep lifesaver rings nearby in the event that someone does start struggling in the water.   

One swimming lesson is all it takes to potentially save a life, but it’s best to enroll kids into lessons for 8 months to a year. There are many opportunities available for swim lessons all over the Lowcountry. By making people more aware of water safety, lives can be saved and summer swims can be enjoyed by everyone.

If you have questions about drowning or pool injuries, contact the Steinberg Law Firm today, or fill out our web form above.