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Austin's Public Health, First Responders, and Aquatic Officials Share Water Safety Tips Ahead of Memorial Day Holiday Weekend and Summer 2024
Austin-area public health officials, first responders, and aquatic professionals are sharing water safety tips ahead of the Memorial Day Holiday weekend and the beginning of summer.
May is National Water Safety Month and area governmental agencies are committed to educating Austin residents about the simple water safety steps they can take to prevent drownings and keep our families safe.
Austin Public Health reminds both residents and visitors that while pools, creeks, lakes, and oceans offer respite from hot Texas summers, there are risks:
Last year, 440 people lost their lives in a fatal drowning; 90 of those deaths were children.
Drowning is fast and silent and can happen to anyone.
Children should always be supervised when around water. Have a phone available for emergencies, but never talk or text while supervising children in the water.
Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages one to four. Children are at the highest risk in pools, specifically backyard pools.
Older children including teenagers are at highest risk in open water such as lakes and rivers.
Everyone should wear a life vest when in open water. Many Travis County parks provide life jacket loaner stations where you and your family can borrow a life jacket while at the park.
Central Texas safety and health officials remind residents to stay safe on and in the water during the holiday weekend and this summer with the following safety tips:
Boating Safety from Travis Co. Sheriff and APD Lake Patrol
Ensure all occupants of your boat are either wearing a Coast Guard-approved life jacket or have one READILY accessible while your boat is in motion.
Ensure your boat has working Nautical Navigational Lights for nighttime boating.
In the event of a Boating or Lake Emergency
Tip 1: Throw a floatation device to the distressed person.
Tip 2: Know where you are on the lake - use maps and landmarks.
Tip 3: Don’t assist anyone unless you’re wearing a life jacket.
Tip 4: Alert boaters around you – Yell, Whistle, Honk Horn
When you encounter a law enforcement vessel with its emergency lights on, slow down to a no wake speed and await direction from the officer.
Ensure that your motorized boat is equipped with the required amount of fire extinguishers and that the location of each fire extinguisher is known by the boat’s occupants, so they are readily accessible in an emergency situation.
Call 911 anytime someone is injured while boating or if you see a boat driving erratically or unsafely. Give the dispatcher an accurate description of the boat and where you saw the behavior.
Water Safety Prevention and First Aid from EMS
Tip 1: Never leave children unattended!
Tip 2: If a child goes missing, check the water first.
Tip 3: Learn CPR! CPR saves lives. Recent data shows that ONLY 28% of drowning victims are receiving CPR or rescue breathing before EMS arrival.
Pool Safety from EMS and Parks and Recreation's Aquatic Division
Know the real signs of drowning. What you see in the movies is not reality. The real signs of a drowning person are:
-Their head is low in the water, tilted back, and their mouth is open.
-They are hyperventilating or gasping.
-They have glassy eyes and are unable to focus.
-There is no response when asked if they are "OK."
-Their hair is over their forehead or eyes.
-They appear vertical in the water.
-They are trying to swim but not making progress.
-They are trying to roll onto their back.
-They appear to be trying to climb an invisible ladder.
Assign a Water Guardian. The role of an adult Water Guardian differs from that of a lifeguard. The Water Guardian’s role is to watch and prevent emergencies. A lifeguard is trained to rescue in the event of an emergency.
Aquatic Division Offers Swimming Lessons
Learn to swim. Taking swim lessons reduces the risk of drowning. It’s never too late to improve swimming skills. Knowing how to swim can save lives and prevent drowning.
Austin Parks and Recreation's Aquatic Division offers affordable swimming classes throughout the city. Summer swim classes have available spaces and financial assistance is available for qualified applicants.
Always be alert. When you are near any body of water, supervise everyone closely.
Swim in designated, preferably lifeguarded areas. Know the risks of the facility or body of water you are swimming in. Many risks can be underwater (currents, shallow and deep areas, rocks, submerged logs, etc.)
Use the buddy system and never swim alone.
A comprehensive list of water safety resources is included with this release.
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2024 Austin Area Water Safety Tips
Water Safety Health Statistics
Texas Department of Family and Protective Services
https://www.dfps.texas.gov/Prevention_and_Early_Intervention/Child_Drownings
Colin’s Hope
https://www.colinshope.org/water-safety-resources/drowning-statistics
Boating Safety
Texas Parks & Wildlife
https://tpwd.texas.gov/fishboat/boat/safety/safety_tips
Water Safety Prevention & First Aid
ATCEMS Water Safety
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/water-safety
ATCEMS Hands-Only CPR
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/hands-only-cpr-instructor-request-form
ATCEMS CPR Training
https://www.austintexas.gov/page/regional-training-center-cpr-training
Pool Safety
American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/types-of-emergencies/water-safety/home-pool-safety.html
Austin Swimming Classes & Importance of Knowing How to Swim
2024 Aquatic Program Guide - Austin Parks and Recreation Department - Swimming Classes
English | Spanish
Austin Parks and Recreation Department Aquatic Division
www.austintexas.gov/swimming