KorinaLiekhus

Splashing around in the sun at one of Omaha’s many pools can be a fun summer activity. However, water safety is not to be ignored. Being safe at the pool is something people often don’t think about, but it can be life changing if it’s forgotten.  

During times of summer fun, one of the biggest issues that falls onto people is water safety. Water safety can especially become a serious issue during summer vacation. According to the CDC, each year there are about 4,000 fatal drownings and 8,000 non-fatal drownings. One way to counteract water related incidents is by learning the basics of water safety. 

According to the American Red Cross there are three items of water safety: water competency, layers of protection and knowing what to do in water emergencies. 

Often, even with knowing how to swim and following all safety precautions, water accidents still take place. 

It is more likely that a person will drown in a body of water without being watched by a lifeguard, as open bodies of water often pose more risk than a pool or controlled body of water. 

     Swimming alone is very dangerous, because if a tragedy were to happen, the accident would not be reported. In order to avoid this risk, go in groups and be sure to keep an eye out for everyone, especially children. 

According to WOWT, during the summer, a 3-year-old girl wandered away from her family at Lake Zorinsky. She was playing at the playground and while looking for her, the father called the police. The mother found the daughter in the lake a short time later. When officers arrived, a citizen was performing CPR. The child ended up dying at the hospital a few days later. 

Because of tragedies like this, children should have a safety device, such as a life jacket, in case they wander away. Sophomore Lea Fals heard about the tragedy at Lake Zorinsky and shared concerns in regards to child safety. “People should train kids on what to do when they start panicking.” Some parents believe that their child is too young to hear about these topics. This is a dangerous idea that could end in more harm than good. 

     If a family decides to go to a waterpark, they need to be completely aware that accidents can still happen, even if lifeguards are present. “I just think that since it’s kind of inevitable, a lifeguard won’t always be there and can’t see everything,“ Fals said. Even at controlled pools, there are a lot of people with a big area to cover. Therefore, being water safe falls to everyone at the pool, parents and lifeguards.