Do you know how to save yourself from drowning? In this blog, we’ve written about how to recognize when someone else is drowning, how to rescue others and how to make your pool area safer. At Life Saver Pool Fence, water safety is our top priority. Today, let’s explore some ways you can get yourself out of this potentially dangerous situation.
4 Tips to Help Save Yourself from Drowning
Tip 1: Choose Your Swimming Spots Wisely
Knowing how to save yourself from drowning means being aware of any and all potential drowning hazards. In many situations, you can accomplish this by choosing safe places to swim.
For example, only swim with other people or where a lifeguard is nearby. An attentive lifeguard is an absolute life saver. Thanks to active supervision, a lifeguard can spot potential dangers like swimmers who are in trouble. They can also spring into action, perform CPR and summon help when needed.
That said, you should never rely on lifeguards alone. Taking responsibility for your own safety should be paramount. That’s where these next tips enter the picture.
Tip 2: Learn to Swim
Becoming a strong swimmer is a powerful safety precaution. After all, it’s never too late to learn to swim. Drowning happens more quickly than most people think. Enrolling in swimming lessons will greatly reduce the risk of drowning for both children and adults. Ultimately, this is one of the smartest steps you can take to save yourself from drowning.
Tip 3: Wear a Certified Life Jacket
Of course, being a strong swimmer won’t make you totally safe in the water. The truth is, anyone can drown, regardless of skill. For this reason, it’s important to take extra precautions. If you’re on the open water, always be sure to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket. If your floatation device isn’t expressly approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, it may not be safe enough to save your life.
This boating safety advice holds true for both adults and children. After all, when it comes to water safety, you can never be too careful.
Tip 4: Don’t Panic!
If you find yourself losing control in a strong current or riptide, don’t panic! Keeping your cool and reacting properly may help you to save yourself from drowning.
When caught in the current, don’t try to fight against it. Instead, you want to escape from it at a side angle. In this situation, try to turn 90 degrees and swim parallel to the shore. This will help you to gradually move outside the pull of the current. With luck, you’ll pull yourself toward calmer waters.
Finally, a common mistake people make while panicking is to struggle mightily to keep their head high above the water. Don’t do this. You’ll tire yourself out in no time flat. Instead, tread water or try to float to conserve energy. You only need to get your nose or mouth barely above the surface. In both of these situations, keeping calm and making smart decisions are key in order to save yourself from drowning.
