Water Safety
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Southwestern Division Region Water Safety |
Hosted by Tulsa District |
News Release "Float Plan May Save Your Life" -- English (PDF) -- Spanish (PDF) Water Safety Video Corps of Engineers National Water Safety Program home page Official Coast Guard Office of Boating Safety |
6,000 people drown in the U.S. every year! Most drowning victims had no intention of being in the water and most people drown within 10 to 30-feet of safety. Surprised? It's true and that is why it is important that you and your family learn to swim. It is also important to follow some simple rules if you are going to be near the water.
Four Major Causes of Drownings 1.
Not wearing a life jacket!
Fatalities on Corps lakes in the Southwestern Division from FY98 to FY01  Swim Safety  • Don't take chances by overestimating your swimming skills. • Swim only in designated swimming areas. • Never swim alone. • Never dive into lakes and rivers. Every year in diving accidents more than 8,000 people suffer paralyzing spinal cord injuries and another 5,000 die before they reach the hospital. • Remember, it only takes a few seconds for a small child to wander away, so please watch your children at all times. • More than half
of all the people that drown have consumed alcohol prior to their accident,
so don't drink alcohol if you're planning to have fun in or on the water.
Boating
Safety • Check your boat for all required safety equipment. • Take a safe boating course. • Check the weather forecast. • File a float plan with a friend. • Check your electrical system and fuel system for gas fumes. • Follow manufacturer's suggested procedures before starting up. • Carry a navigation chart and know your waterway. • Follow the navigation rules of the road, buoys and other aids. • Be a safe boater; always post a sharp lookout.
Hypothermia 
H-E-L-P Posture -- Heat Escape Lessing PostureMany suspected drowning victims actually die from cold exposure or hypothermia which is a condition in which the body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Violent shivering develops which may give way to confusion and loss of body movement. To avoid hypothermia: • Dress warmly in wool clothing. • Wear rain gear and stay dry. • Seek a warm
environment at the first sign (mild shivering)
of hypothermia. • Don't discard clothing. • While wearing your life jacket, draw your knees and arms together into the HELP (Heat Escape Lessening Posture) posture.
Alcohol - The Fun Killer  It is a fact, alcohol and water do not mix! Unfortunately, many people ignore this and each year about 3,000 of them are wrong…dead wrong! More than half of all the people that drown had consumed alcohol prior to their accident. Being intoxicated is not necessary for alcohol to be a threat to your safety. Just one beer will impair your balance, vision, judgement and reaction time, thus making you a potential danger to yourself and others. Research shows that four hours of boating, exposure to noise, vibration, sun, glare and wind produces fatigue that makes you act as if you were legally intoxicated. If you combine alcohol consumption with this boating fatigue condition, it intensifies the effects and increases your accident risk. So remember, don't
include alcohol in your outing, if you planning to have fun in, on, or
near the water. Frequently Asked Questions
When do children need to wear a life jacket? Children should always wear a life jacket around the water. Most states in the Southwestern Division require that a child 12 years of age or younger wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket while aboard any motorboat unless the boat is anchored, made fast to the shore, or grounded. You can check with your state law enforcement for rules and regulations on water laws. Aren't inflatable swimming aids just as good as life jackets? No. Inflatable air mattresses and rings are not life jacktes. They easily develop leaks or a child can fall off of them. A correctly fitted and properly worn Coast Guard-approved life jacket will not slip off a child or an adult. Can children operate a personal watercraft? Many state laws prohibit children under 13 from operating a personal watercraft unless accompanied on board by a person at least 18 years of age. Many states require children to complete a boating safety course before operating a water vessel. You can check with your state law enforcement for rules and regulations on water laws. Why are personal watercrafts considered to be so dangerous? These jet ski-type watercrafts are not necessarily dangerous, but do have some operating features that drivers should be aware of. They have no brakes and all steering control to the vessel is lost when the throttle is released. Since releasing the throttle in an emergency situation is almost instinctive, safe operation of a personal watercraft requires more education and training than most other vessels. How can children help themselves when they go around water? Learn to swim! People aren't born knowing how to swim: they have to learn. Until you become a good swimmer, you can't take care of yourself if you unexpectedly step or fall into deep water. What should I do if someone is in trouble in the water? Reach, throw, but
don't go! Most drownings happen very close to safety. Reach for a person
with a long pole, stick, or floating toy, such as a "noodle."
Throw a floating object, such as a life jacket or a styrofoam cooler,
but never go after them. One tragedy could become two.
Public Service Announcements These are suggested texts for use by the media or others who want to provide advice on water safety.
GOING TO THE LAKE THIS WEEKEND? GREAT. THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HOPES THAT YOU HAVE A GREAT TRIP. BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE STOCKED YOUR BOAT WITH A LIFE JACKET FOR EVERY PERSON ON YOUR VESSEL. IF YOU PLAN ON DRINKING, MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A DESIGNATED DRIVER. AND REMEMBER TO BE RESPECTFUL AND OBSERVANT OF OTHER BOATERS. THESE SIMPLE MEASURES DON'T TAKE MUCH EFFORT. AND THEY COULD SAVE YOU AND YOUR LOVED ONES' LIVES.
SUMMERTIME IS EXCITING. THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES CAN'T WAIT TO SPEND SOME TIME AT THE LAKE. BUT THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS IS WORRIED. EVERY YEAR WE SEE TRAGEDIES AT OUR LAKES. AND ALL OF THEM COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED. HELP THE CORPS OF ENGINEERS MAKE THIS SUMMER THE SAFEST YET. WEAR A LIFE JACKET. DON'T DRINK WHILE BOATING. AND BE RESPECTFUL TO OTHER BOATERS.
PAM
Naegleria fowleri The organism is a single cell protozoa (amoeba), Naegleria fowleri, that is the causal agent for PAM. The route of entry into the body is through the nasal cavity and children are the most susceptible to the disease. The organism travels through the nasal cavity directly to the brain where it causes an almost always fatal infection similar to bacterial or viral meningitis. The freshwater amoeba is found all around the world in soil and fresh water and has even been found in swimming pools. The amoeba is most active when the water temperature is greater than 80 degrees. PAM infection can only occur when a number of conditions occur at the same time: a. The amoeba must be present in the water. b. The amoeba must be able to multiply to large numbers. (Greater than 80 degrees water temperature in stagnant, calm waters.) c. Water containing the amoeba must get up the victims nose. (Water must beforcefully inhaled. The PAM infection can not result from swallowing water containing the pathogenic amoeba.) PAM infection can be prevented by following a few common sense precautions: a. Never swim in stagnant or polluted water. Stay in deeper more open areas of the lake. b. Avoid underwater swimming and hold your nose or use nose plugs when jumping into natural waters. c. Swim in properly maintained pools. Thankfully, PAM is extremely rare. Less than three cases are reported each year nationwide. Every year many more deaths and injuries result from diving into shallow waters, or natural waters that hide rocks and debris, while using alcohol or drugs, while boating or swimming, and from leaving children unattended in water for even short periods of time. Unfortunately, in addition to pathogenic freshwater amoebas, there are other protozoa, bacteria, and viruses in fresh water all capable of infecting swimmers with everything from mild stomach discomfort to severe gastrointestinal illness. Some of these organisms are found naturally in lakes and streams while others are carried from wastewater sources including septic systems and runoff from animal and wildfowl areas. Amazingly, few infections are reported by lake visitors. If the water feels warm and there is no wave action or water movement, bacteria can be expected to be present and one should be cautious about swimming. Persons who do allow their children in lakes, ponds, and streams at this time should be aware of meningitis symptoms. Symptoms include: •Severe headache •high fever •stiff neck •nausea •vomiting •seizures •hallucinations as the condition worsens For
more information contact
your local health department
or state environmental
quality office.
http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/phpep/dpn/issues/dpn57n15.pdf Thanks for Visiting! We're pleased you visited the water safety website for the Southwestern Division. More information is available at the Corps' Natonal Water Safety Program homepage. This is a great place to find art, water safety materials, safety tips, and much more. Check it out at watersafety.usace.army.mil. Web Site Information specific
to the geographic areas covered by the District offices within the Southwestern
Division can be obtained at these Public Affairs Offices:
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