Water Safety Tips for Families and Pets

We always want to avoid misjudging conditions when swimming, boating, or enjoying the multitude of water sports. The most common cause of boating accidents is operator inattention. As always, it never hurts to refresh safety precautions when we take our families to have summer fun on lakes, rivers, and oceans. 

Avoid Alcohol 

Operating a watercraft while intoxicated is illegal. In Texas. The first offense of driving while under the influence is a class B misdemeanor, punishable by a minimum of 72 hours in jail, and you lose your driver’s license as well. These boating accidents are preventable. 

Texas ranks among the top five states for alcohol-related boating accidents that involve serious injuries or have fatal consequences. Texas averages almost 13 boating incidents caused by intoxicated boat operators per 100,000 registered watercraft, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 

Check the Weather and Unique Conditions

Check the weather forecast and prepare your equipment, boat, or other vessels. Every lake and river, and even ocean beaches can have unique conditions and wildlife that affect that location. It could be quickly rising high winds, drop offs, rip tides, alligators, bear country, etc. 

Use PFDs

Use PFDs (personal flotation device) or lifejackets that fit. When a PFD is too big, it can push up around your face, shift, ride up, slide off, or allow the swimmer to slip out of it in the water. A PFD that is too small may not keep you afloat. 

• Arm openings: There should be no excess room above the arm openings.
• Chin or face: The jacket should not ride up over your chin or face.
• Shoulder straps: For children, you should not be able to get more than two or three fingers under the shoulder straps.
• Crotch strap: If the jacket has a crotch strap, it should not be tight against the groin area when the child sits down, but it also shouldn’t be too loose.

For Pets: The PFD should fit snugly so your dog can’t twist, step, or swim out of it, but not so tight that it’s uncomfortable. You can measure your dog’s length, girth, and weight, and check with the manufacturer’s size chart to find the correct size. You should be able to fit two fingers under the straps.

Inflatable Floaties Are not Safety Devices

Inflatable water toys may give parents a false sense of security. They are fun for kids, but they are no substitute for U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets. 

Do Not Swim Alone

Swimming alone can be dangerous, regardless of age or swimming ability, because unexpected accidents can happen quickly. If you swim alone despite age or swimming ability, you could develop cramps, have a sudden health issue, or slip and fall. In challenging or unfamiliar environments, open water, slippery surfaces, strong currents, or underwater obstacles are dangerous. Most drowning deaths occur when someone is swimming alone.  

Never Let Children Swim Alone

Even when swimming in a shallow toddler’s pool, children should always be accompanied by an adult. One adult in your family or group should take CPR certification classes. Stay within arm’s length of children in or around water. This is called touch supervision. Looking at your cell phone briefly may allow enough time for a child to drown. 

Designate a Water Watcher

Appoint someone to make sure that one adult is always actively watching the water. That’s the only task they should be attending to. Water watching is not something you can do while also drinking alcohol, reading, socializing, or texting. 

Every Member of Your Party Should Know Water Survival Skills

This is best accomplished via swimming lessons. Swimming lessons teach children what to do if they find themselves in a swimming pickle, like how to get to an edge in an emergency and how to get out of the water. They teach important techniques, like floating on your back to save energy or how to swim out of a riptide.

Enforce Basic Water Safety Rules

Everyone in the family or the group you’re with should know and agree to follow basic water safety rules. 

Know What to Do in an Emergency

• Learn first aid and CPR before you go.
• Bring a cell phone with you or know where to find the nearest phone.
• Learn safe ways of rescuing others without putting yourself in danger. 
• Reach out to someone in trouble in the water while holding on to something stable. If you can’t reach them, throw them something that floats.