Every Sunday, we will share a story of a non-fatal drowning, discuss where things went wrong, and give some pointers on how to prevent it from happening to the people you love. Thankfully, these stories have happy endings for those involved, but sadly, we lose too many people to drowning every year. We hope examining these real-life stories help put the dangers of water into perspective and help you introduce various principles of water safety to your family!
Five friends recently found themselves in a troubling situation on the river. Thanks to Natrona County Sheriff’s Deputy Dexter Bryant, all friends made it home safely when their raft unexpectedly ruptured and sent them into the water.
We see it over and over again. People are out on the lake, in the river, at the beach. They have their lifejackets with them, but they don’t wear them. Why? Because they aren’t “swimming.” They’re riding a boat, kayaking, on a raft. But it’s called Water Safety, not swim safety. Because any time you are around the water, you need to be safe. Natural bodies of water, in or out, call for the wearing of your lifejacket. You never know when you may end up in the water, and may not have time to put one on as the emergency is happening.
If you are planning to swim, make sure you can get in and out of the water safely. As this story shows, it is a good idea to check this out even if you don’t plan on getting wet in the water. Whether you are boating, fishing, or participating in any other water activity, take time before you start to scan the area around you and ask yourself, If I ended up in the water, could I get out? If falling overboard means you wouldn’t have a good way back out of the water, maybe this isn’t the best location for your planned activity. Don’t be afraid to pick a new location once you arrive if the area isn’t the best place to enjoy the water safely.
If you suddenly found yourself in water, do you have your lifejacket on? Do you have a safe and easy way to exit? Have fun, be safe, and know the In and Outs of Water Safety!
