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 In preparation for the busy summer aquatics season, KJFF Radio (1400 AM) hosted an interview on April 14 with Kathy Ray, a health and safety specialist with the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter, and Omar Ruiz from the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold. Ray specializes in Red Cross aquatics programs.
Drowning occurs most frequently among children younger than 5 and young adults from 15 to 24. As frightening as the risk of drowning is, it can usually be prevented. Building on the Red Cross mission to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies, the St. Louis Area Chapter trained more than 36,000 local residents last year in Learn-to-Swim, lifeguard certification and other water safety programs.
Learning how to swim is an essential first step toward ensuring safety in the water. The Red Cross offers courses throughout the metropolitan area for all ages.
Because lifeguards are first responders and professional rescuers, the Red Cross is actively involved in their training and certification. The Red Cross hosts an annual Lifeguard Competition in July to ensure lifeguards remain ready to respond. Scenario-based exercises enhance skills in the rescue of passive and active victims, while reinforcing the proper management of spinal cord injuries and first aid emergencies.
In addition to standard Red Cross lifeguard programs, the Red Cross is involved in the Aquatic Examiner Service. Through this program, the Red Cross is contracted by aquatic facilities to review operations and uphold the highest standards of excellence.
While verifying that proper safety procedures and guidelines are being followed, the service ensures that lifeguard skills are continually enhanced. The process is achieved through an initial conference to collect data and review operational procedures, and is followed by the development of a training program and unannounced on-site evaluations.
The importance of these programs is evident. Two lifeguard teams – one from St. Louis and one from Clayton parks and recreation departments – recently received the American Red Cross Lifesaver Award for saving the life of a child. In both situations, exceptional training and teamwork made the difference.
In regard to water safety tips, Ray encouraged listeners to never swim alone, to read and obey all posted rules, to only swim in areas supervised by a lifeguard, and to require that children and inexperienced swimmers wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket. Ray also urged swimmers to be knowledgeable of the water environment and potential hazards, to use a feet-first entry into the water, and to refrain from consuming alcohol when swimming, diving or boating.
To keep children safe in or near the water, adults should maintain constant supervision. Inexperienced swimmers should remain within an arm’s reach of an adult, access to certain water features such as small ponds and waterfalls should be prevented, kiddie pools should be emptied immediately after use, and parents should enroll their children in a Learn-to-Swim course to develop necessary skills.
Ray reminded families to safeguard their home swimming pools. A fence should be constructed to completely enclose the area with vertical bars and a self-closing, self-latching gate. Rules should be posted and enforced without exception, depth markers and “no-diving” signs should be easily visible, and toys should be kept away from the pool and out of sight when not in use.
Pool covers should be completely removed prior to use and fully secured when in place, and emergency telephone numbers should be posted nearby. Basic lifesaving devices such as a reaching pole, rope and flotation devices should be kept near the pool, and family members should be trained in CPR and First Aid. Finally, it is important to store pool chemicals in childproof containers and out of the reach of children.
For more information about water safety tips, Learn-to-Swim, lifeguard training or other Red Cross aquatics programs, call Kathy Ray at 314.516.2716 or log on to www.redcrossstl.org.
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