{"id":3391,"date":"2026-05-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-27T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/prd-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/?p=3391"},"modified":"2026-05-28T23:33:00","modified_gmt":"2026-05-28T23:33:00","slug":"water-safety-101-follow-these-4-easy-tips-prevent-drowning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stg-www.mccdn.io\/vitals\/water-safety-101-follow-these-4-easy-tips-prevent-drowning\/","title":{"rendered":"Paddle sports and boating safety 101","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"<p>With so many lakes, rivers and waterfronts to explore across the Pacific Northwest, it&#8217;s no surprise that paddle sport popularity continues to grow. Before hitting the water, make sure you and your family are equipped for a safe outing.<\/p>\n<p>According to Washington&#8217;s recreational boating accident data, 55 percent of all fatal recreational boating accidents in 2022 occurred on human-powered watercraft. Accidents can happen anywhere, to anyone and even in the most unexpected of conditions.<\/p>\n<p>Follow these tips when kayaking, canoeing or stand-up paddleboarding.<\/p>\n<h2>Tips for paddlers<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Take a course to increase your knowledge of paddle sport safety, emergency procedures and navigational rules.<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/parks.wa.gov\/find-activity\/activity-search\/paddlesports\">Pick an activity level<\/a> that&#8217;s suitable for your ability and gear.<\/li>\n<li>Always wear a life jacket.<\/li>\n<li>Carry a sounding device (horn, whistle or bell), a navigation light (lantern, flashlight) and visual distress signals such as flares.<\/li>\n<li>Be visible and wear brightly colored clothing, put reflective tape on paddles and use a flagpole.<\/li>\n<li>Don&#8217;t go out on the water while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.<\/li>\n<li>Check the weather and know that it can change rapidly.<\/li>\n<li>Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature. Expect to get wet.<\/li>\n<li>Tell your family\/friends your specific plan: where you will put in, your planned travel route, exit location and expected return time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Tips for everyone<\/h2>\n<p>Sadly, the risk of drowning while on the water is even higher for children and teens: In Washington, drowning is a leading cause of fatal injury for children and teens ages 1 to 17 and number-one cause for ages 1 to 4.<\/p>\n<p>Here are some general water safety tips\u00a0for anyone planning to paddle, boat, swim or play in the water this summer.<\/p>\n<h3>1. Always wear life jackets when in\/near open water.<\/h3>\n<p>Life jackets may feel like a chore to wear, but they could save your life. According to the U.S. Coast Guard, 75 percent of boating fatalities in 2023 involved drowning and 87 percent of drowning victims were not wearing a life jacket.<\/p>\n<p>You may be thinking, \u201cI know how to swim. Why do I need a life jacket?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>But being able to swim won\u2019t necessarily help in chilly Washington waters, which average 50\u201355 degrees year-round. Water this cold can dangerously lower body temperature, making your limbs numb and swimming difficult.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou can be an excellent swimmer, but if you can\u2019t move your muscles, you\u2019ll sink like a stone,\u201d says Erin Summa, health promotion program manager for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.marybridge.org\/patients-visitors\/patient-family-support-services\/childhood-safety\/safety-information\/practice-water-safety\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Mary Bridge Children&#8217;s Center for Childhood Safety<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Cold shock response, or the body\u2019s automatic reflex when immersed in cold water, may trigger a deep inhalation of air. If you\u2019re underwater when this happens, you may end up with water in your lungs, making the situation worse.<\/p>\n<p>Life jackets keep you afloat and help your core stay warm.<\/p>\n<p>Children should always wear a life jacket near open water, whether swimming or boating. Washington state law requires children 12 years and younger to wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket at all times when underway in a vessel less than 19 feet in length.<\/p>\n<p>When deciding whether kids should wear life jackets or inflatables in a swimming pool, there are a few things to consider.<\/p>\n<p>While it\u2019s a good idea to test the fit of their life jacket in a controlled setting like a pool, it&#8217;s best that kids not use flotation devices in pools routinely because it can lead them to assume their body floats. A pool is a great place to learn how their body naturally moves in water \u2014 with active adult supervision, of course.<\/p>\n<p>Be sure to check the life jacket fit. Fasten all zippers and straps and pull them snug. To test whether it\u2019s fitted properly, pull up on the shoulders. Your child\u2019s ears and chin should not slip through the life jacket.<\/p>\n<p>Water wings, rescue rings and boat cushions are not a replacement for life jackets, and life jackets shouldn\u2019t be a substitute for a designated \u201cwater watcher\u201d keeping an active eye on children in the water.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Enroll your children in swimming lessons.<\/h3>\n<p>Swimming doesn\u2019t drown-proof a person, but it\u2019s an important skill to have \u2014 and the only sport that could potentially save your life, Summa says.<\/p>\n<p>Enroll your children in swimming lessons every summer to maintain and grow their skills, she suggests.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s not a box you check \u2014 it\u2019s ongoing education,\u201d she adds.<\/p>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ymcapkc.org\/programs\/aquatics\/swim-lessons\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Y of Pierce and Kitsap Counties offers a variety of youth and adult swim lessons<\/a> at multiple locations.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.parkstacoma.gov\/activities-and-sports\/swimming\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Metro Parks Tacoma offers swim lessons<\/a> as well, plus outdoor and indoor pools open to the public.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Obtain a boater safety education card.<\/h3>\n<p>Did you know Washington state law requires operators of power-driven vessels with 15 horsepower or greater \u2014 basically all power boats and personal watercraft \u2014 to take a safety education course and obtain a Washington state boater education card?<\/p>\n<p>Boaters age 12 and older can take the course in a classroom, online or at home. Learn more at the <a href=\"http:\/\/boat.wa.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office&#8217;s boating safety and education website<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Remember water hazards exist at home, too.<\/h3>\n<p>Water is everywhere, from the toilet to buckets in the backyard. If your child goes missing at home, check sources of water first.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cToddlers are curious by nature and top-heavy by design,\u201d Summa says.<\/p>\n<p>Never leave your baby or toddler in the tub, even for just a second. Baby bath seats often provide a false sense of security. They are not a safety device and do not prevent drowning.<\/p>\n<p>If you have a pool at home, be sure to use multiple layers of protection: a four-sided fence, self-closing gate latches, door alarms and spa\/pool covers. <!--StartFragment --><span class=\"cf0\">For aboveground pools, remove the ladder when not in use.<\/span><!--EndFragment --><\/p>\n<p>Summa also recommends toilet lid locks, since toilets are at perfect reach for a toddler.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.marybridge.org\/patients-visitors\/patient-family-support-services\/childhood-safety\/safety-information\/practice-water-safety\/\">More water safety tips from Mary Bridge Children&#8217;s Center for Childhood Safety<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In recognition of Paddle Safe Week, here are safety tips for anyone planning to paddle, boat, swim or play in the water this summer.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":327,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[127,67],"tags":[170],"class_list":["post-3391","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-healthy-living","category-kids-health","tag-summer-safety"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.6 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - 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