Swimming is supposed to be an enjoyable and healthy activity. Certainly there are certain dangers involved in swimming, and you should be aware of these, especially if you are going swimming with an inexperienced swimmer (or a child). We have some tips to help you navigate your swimming experiences beautifully, safely and healthfully.

Enjoy:

• Learn to swim. Take classes if you need to. Don’t just tread water. Make sure you’re comfortable in the water. The American Red Cross can hook you up with your local chapter to find classes near you.
• Don’t swim alone. Bring a buddy along. That way if you get into trouble, you have someone you can rely on to help you out and vice versa.
• Test the water’s temperature before you go in. If it’s too cold, your body can go into shock, making your heart rate and blood pressure go up. Cold temps can also slow down your muscles creating more difficulties for you to actually swim effectively.
• Swimming in a pool? Check out the depth of the water before you dive in. If the water’s too shallow, you could hurt yourself by taking the plunge. The water needs to be deep enough for you to dive right in. Keep an eye out for posted signs and follow the rules of the pool. If a lifeguard’s around, ask for help and follow his/her suggestions.
• Eating and swimming don’t mix. No sucking on candy, chewing on gum or finishing up a snack while in the water. Like your mom told you when you were a kid, it’s wise to wait a while after eating before you go in and swim…about half an hour is usually good. Otherwise, you can get cramps that can impact your ability to get back to shore or … the shallow end of the pool (or lake).
• Don’t forget the sunblock. Even when the weather is cloudy, you still need an SPF of at least 15 (preferably 30) when swimming outside. Limit the amount of sun exposure between peak times of 10 am – 4pm and re-apply sunscreen at least once every hour or so even if yours is ‘waterproof.’
• Believe it or not – dehydration can happen even when you’re surrounded by all that water. Make sure you drink plenty of water regularly. You will be working up an internal sweat even if your body feels cool from the water surrounding you. 4-8 ounces per hour is a good start. Try for more if you can. Drink even if you don’t feel thirsty. You should also avoid alcoholic drinks as they can accelerate the dehydrating process. That is especially true of beer.
• Please supervise children in and around the water at all times. Do not leave them unattended. The usage of flotation devices for younger and inexperienced swimmers is recommended but can (and should) not replace parental or adult supervision of the children. Make sure the little ones get lessons so they become competent swimmers as soon as possible as well.
• Finally, keep an eye out on weather conditions. If a storm is coming, you may decide that today is the day to stay inside and skip your swim. Electrical storms and water activities, for example, don’t mix well.

Basically if you learn how to swim and practice common sense, you can be safe in the water no matter when, where or with whom you swim.