Traveling is a great way to get out of your comfort zone and see the wonders of the world that you may have ever only seen on TV. What’s more, when going on vacation with a child, you can open up their eyes to new experiences and teach them about exciting new cultures, or simply have enough time to finally enjoy their company and bond in ways impossible when they are at school and you at work. However, if you go anywhere with water (and let’s face it, most holidays will involve water of some kind, either in the form of a swimming pool or beach), there are some precautions you need to bear in mind for both yourself and your family, in order to avoid anything that could upend your vacation or indeed your life.
Don’t Swim Alone Or Unsupervised
No matter how amazing a swimmer you believe yourself to be, a healthy dose of humble pie will go a long way in ensuring that you return from your vacation healthy and happy. This is particularly vital when it comes to children, but we will touch on that point later in the post. In fact, this swimming pool accident attorney based in Denver notes that negligent supervision is among the leading causes of drowning in Denver, and it doesn’t take much extrapolation to extend this to any location where swimming is practiced. But the question remains: what can you do if you are vacationing solo and have no one to keep an eye out for you? The answer lies in the fact that you can always make sure to swim in areas where there are plenty of other people around so that if you do find yourself struggling, you can call out for help, or others may see you and notify the lifeguards or other authorities.
Always Wear A Life Jacket If When In Open Waters
Too many people underestimate the power of open water and how even just a momentary lapse in judgment could cause you to get dragged away, never to be seen again. It doesn’t matter if you fancy yourself an elite swimmer; when you venture out into rivers, seas, lakes, or oceans, you should always make sure to wear a lifejacket or some form of Personal Floatation Device (PFD). If you are concerned that their business will affect your enjoyment, you needn’t worry. Plenty of manufacturers make very innocuous PFDs that hug the body and make it feel as though there is nothing there. However, you will certainly know it’s there when the time comes that you need it to keep your head above the water.
Avoid Alcohol Near Water
It should go without saying, but alcohol has the uncanny effect of reducing inhibitions and making one feel as though one is capable of a great many things that perhaps one isn’t! The unfortunate truth is that when on holiday, it is all too easy to take advantage of the lashings of beer, spirits, and cocktails that resorts furnish their guests. While the occasional drink isn’t going to cause too many issues, you really need to remain disciplined and choose whether you want to drink or go in the water. This point takes on another level when children are involved, as you need to remain aware of what is going on when they are in the pool or body of water. Again, if you want to enjoy the benefits of your all-inclusive resort and slowly get drunk throughout the day, you need to agree with your partner about who will be responsible for making sure the kids are safe.
Teach Children Basic Water Safety Before You Go
Bringing your kids to the sea is a great experience, especially if this is one of the few times you get to spend with them away from the confines of your neighborhood. However, if you want to ensure things go swimmingly (no pun intended), it can pay dividends in not only safety but also enjoyment if you take the time to teach them to swim correctly. These lessons must include all the basic tenets and stokes and several things your kids can do to keep their heads above water. This can be teaching them how to tread water efficiently and giving them enough time to call or help if required. Moreover, if they are already a decent swimmer, you could teach them how to help others who might be in trouble in the water, such as techniques that stop them from getting pulled under by a person frantically drawing, etc.
Follow Posted Safety Guidelines
Most places will display signage that warns beach and pool-goers of the rules they must follow and any warning that must be heeded to avoid danger. If you are on a beach, this could be warnings related to the timings of the tides, dangerous animals lurking beneath the waves, or even designated areas that separate swimmers from the various machines that ply the waves, such as jet skis or motorboats. In a pool setting, this might be shallow and deep areas and those sections of the pool where diving is prohibited for whatever reason. Spending a few moments to become au fait with your surroundings and the warnings will pay off greatly as you will all finish the day safely and free of injury (or worse).
Never Leave Children Unattended Near Water
Finishing off this post is perhaps the cardinal sin of anything to do with water and children…leaving them unattended. Just as with the initial point about never swimming alone, you must always be attentive and aware of your child as they play in the water. It only takes a few seconds for a child to drown, so you need to ask yourself, is it really necessary to leave them unattended while you head off for another beer? As already mentioned, you can also split these duties with other adults in your group; just make sure they’re also aware of this point and fully understand their responsibilities.
Water is a great source of joy and happiness, but it can also spell disaster if you don’t treat it with due respect. From avoiding alcohol while swimming or attending to children to heeding the warning signs usually displayed around bodies of water, there are many things you can do to ensure that you have a great time, and all come back with fond memories rather than harrowing regrets.