UNDATED (NewsDakota.com) – As the warm weather fast approaches, news such as that of the recent drowning of a girl from Vermillion is once again reminding Dakota residents to take extra care when it comes to pool safety.
It was recently reported that Courtney Jayne, the mother of a little girl who drowned in the foamy rivers at Fall Park may sue the City of Sioux Falls. The mother notes that she was helping the victim’s younger sister over the rocks when “in less than 60 seconds,” her older daughter was gone. She noted that the drowning happened much faster than she could react; in a matter of seconds, in fact. Recently, firefighters shared important advice to help avoid drowning in Sioux Falls. In addition to following their tips, swimming lessons should also be considered for all those who need help with their technique.
Getting Caught in a Current
The firefighters told Keloland News that if swimmers should get caught in a current, they shouldn’t try and fight against it. It’s a simple piece of advice, but also one that challenges our primordial instincts. Fighting against the current can be futile and can tired you out in the long run. Swimmers should aim to stay calm and float along, attempting to swim parallel to the shore until they are able to free themselves of the current. It is also important to try to ‘latch onto’ any anchored item such as a branch, without become entangled in the latter.
What If You See Someone Drowning?
The firefighters recommended against jumping in and putting oneself at risk. Ideally, it is better to throw a flotation device to someone who is already in the water. You can also try to use a long pole or stick to reach the person. If the stick isn’t long enough and you have time, you might tie a long rope to a flotation device in order to pull the person is. These techniques can be taught to children to help keep them safe in the water. Children should know how to make a knot, for instance, and know how to aim a flotation device or lifebuoy at a particular area in the water.
Avoiding White/Foamy Water
As swimmer and ex-paramedic Lynne Roper wrote for The Outdoor Swimming Society, when water is white and foamy, swimmers can face an additional risk. “White water is water mixed with air, and air bubbles have less density than water. So you lose your buoyancy in it, are affected by gravity much more and may very well sink,” she said. Rather than swimming against the current, Roper advises that swimmers attempt to exit the area of bubbles through the water, resurfacing outside it.
Other Risks of Waterfalls
Roper noted that additional risks swimmers should be aware of are siphons (gaps between rocks that can ‘suck in’ swimmers and pin them down), fallen trees or roots (water can hold a swimmer against these roots, or a riverbank), and high banks (swimmers can get pulled into water that is so high they cannot get out of it). She added that swimmers should avoid swimming in cold water, which can cause shock.
In the summer, it is important to be aware of the unique risks posed by swimming in moving water, especially after there has been rain. Select shallow, safe areas to swim in, avoid outdoor swimming after the rain, and ensure the water is warm enough to avoid shock should you get caught in a current.