Clay County Aquatics Safety Month at the YMCA

The recent findings by USA swimming showing that drowning is the second leading cause of death among youth 14 and under and that Florida has the highest incidence of drowning of children between the ages of 1-4 has startled me. It seems that after every weekend on the First Coast there has been another unnecessary drowning or near drowning. These incidences can be and should be avoided. I am glad the Clay County YMCAs are reacting to these statistics and events by dubbing July their Aquatics Safety Month.

I have always been a strong swimmer and aquatics safety always seemed a concept I naturally comprehended because of my background. However, it turned out that I was naive when I was actually faced with an incident in my own backyard. I was taking a leisurely swim alone after work. I pushed myself off the side of the wall in the deep end and instantly had a cramp in my calf. The cramp was so bad that I felt paralyzed. I began floundering in the water and luckily a raft was floating nearby that I could grab. The cramp went away after about thirty minutes and I limped for the next nine days, but the memory is still fresh in my mind.

Water is associated with fun and relaxation but can actually be very dangerous if we take it for granted. Knowing what to do in an emergency and having a family emergency plan is essential anytime you and your loved ones are around water.

Clay County Aquatics Safety Month at the YMCA is free and open to the public and will focus on all these issues. Family Safety Seminar's will be held at both the Dye Clay and Barco Newton Family YMCAs every Monday and Wednesday in July at 10am and 7pm. At both YMCA branches in Clay County there will also be free educational materials on water safety at the front desk. Finally, to celebrate the end of Clay County YMCAs Aquatics Safety Month the Dye Clay Family YMCA will hold Family FUN Night Friday July 25th from 6pm to 8:30pm. Quick water safety tips:

• Actively supervise your children when they are both in and around the water.
• Teach children to swim at an early age and educate them early about water safety.
• Make sure children swim within designated areas and stay within your sight.
• Instruct children to never run, push or jump on others in and around the pool.
• Become certified in infant and child CPR.
• Make sure children always wear life jackets and use proper water safety devices.
• Ensure that kids drink plenty of fluids to stay properly hydrated, especially on hot days.
• Wear hats and sunglasses and apply sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher to protect yourself and your children from sun exposure.
• Keep your child’s ear dry to prevent ear infection.
• Do not let your child scratch his or her ears or put anything in them, since this can increase the chances of infection.

For more information about Clay County Aquatics Safety Month please contact Laura Burk at the Dye Clay Family YMCA 272-4304.