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Water Safety
AMERICAN RED CROSS OFFERS WATER SAFETY TIPS
Northern New York Chapter
Editors note: American Red Cross "expert" JoAnn or Bill can provide more information on keeping families safe in and around the water this season. To schedule an interview, contact them at 782-4410 or www.redcrossnny.com
The Northern New York Chapter reminds families to follow these safety tips for staying healthy and safe in or around the water:
Learn to swim and swim well. One of the best things anyone can do to stay safe in and around the water is learn to swim. No one, including adults should ever swim alone. Adults should practice reach supervision which means to be within arms length of a child in case an emergency occurs.
Outfit everyone with the proper gear. Kids and even adults who are not strong swimmers or who appear to rely on inflatable toys for safety should use U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation devices (PFDs) whenever they are in or around the water. Everyone, including strong swimmers, should use an approved PFD when boating. When used properly, this lightweight plastic equipment can help save lives.
Always keep basic lifesaving equipment by the residential pool and know how to use it. A first aid kit, cordless phone, phone list with emergency contact information, reaching pole and ring buoy with a line attached are recommended. First aid kits should contain plastic face shields, which can help prevent disease transmission. Plastic ring buoys are a good idea; because of their maneuverability even a child can use one if the need arises. In addition, the Red Cross recommends that pools be surrounded on all sides by a fence that is at least four feet high. It should not provide any footholds, which would allow a child to climb over or spacing to climb through. The fence should have a self-closing, self-locking gate locks when the pool is not in use.
Swim in supervised areas only.
Obey "No Diving" signs.
-more-
AMERICAN RED CROSS Add One
Watch out for the "dangerous too's." Take a break at the point of being too tired, too cold, or too far from safety, too much sun, too little hydration, too much strenuous activity.
Dont mix alcohol and swimming. Alcohol impairs your judgment, balance, and coordination, affects your swimming and diving skills and reduces your body's ability to stay warm.
Pack a safety bag for a day at the beach or lake. Water-proof sunscreen with an SPF 15 or higher, water shoes to keep feet safe from the heat and sharp objects on land and plenty of water are musts. All containers should be plastic to prevent injuries from breaking glass. Also, a hat and sunglasses keep eyes safe from dangerous UV rays.
Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts. Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
Learn Red Cross first aid and CPR. While the above tips can help prevent emergencies, it is important to know what to do if a situation arises. And all caregivers, including grandparents, older siblings and babysitters should have these lifesaving skills.
For more information on staying safe in and around the water visit [insert chapter site or www.redcross.org] or contact the Northern New York Chapter at 315 782-4410.
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
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COMPRESSION ONLY CPR?
A Review of The Red Cross Position
on Compression-Only CPR
Recently, Compression-Only CPR (giving continuous chest compressions) has received attention by media. Per the 2005 International Consensus on CPR and ECC Science with Treatment Recommendations, the AMERICAN RED CROSS recognizes that, in some cases, Compression-Only CPR is the best technique for a non-certified, lay responder (bystander) who witnesses the sudden collapse of an adult.
Based on scientific evidence and the likelihood of bystanders witnessing an adult cardiac arrest, the American Red Cross Advisory Council on First Aid, Aquatics, Safety and Preparedness developed their Advisory Statement on Compression-Only CPR in May, 2007. Per the advisory statement, the Red Cross recognizes that Compression-Only CPR is an acceptable alternative for those who are unwilling, unable, untrained or are no longer able to perform full CPR (cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths) and, in some cases, the preferred method for bystanders who witness an adult suddenly collapse.
Main Points
Based on scientific evidence, the American Red Cross supports Compression-Only CPR (continuous chest compressions) as an acceptable alternative when:
a responder is unwilling, unable, untrained or unsure how to perform full CPR (cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths).
a bystander has witnessed the sudden collapse of an adult.
The Red Cross uses the term "Compression-Only CPR" while the American Heart Association (AHA) uses "Hands-Only CPR." The technique is the same performing continuous chest compressions (at the rate of 100 compressions per minute) without rescue breathing.
Both Red Cross and AHA hope that Compression-Only CPR will save lives by encouraging bystanders who witness the sudden collapse of an adult to get involved and have someone call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number and then start performing chest compressions until help arrives or the adult shows obvious signs of life (breathing and movement).
The following individuals will still need to take training which includes full CPR (cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths).
those who take CPR training for certification to meet State and Federal requirements;
lay responders in workplaces who have a duty to respond;
those responsible for infants and children;
Compression-Only CPR does not affect professional rescuer CPR/AED training programs or protocols.
Additional Points:
1. Compression-Only CPR should not be used for infants and children, for an adult whose sudden collapse is not witnessed or where a respiratory emergency may have caused the cardiac arrest.
2. An automated external defibrillator (AED) should be used as soon as it becomes available regardless of whether or not the sudden collapse was witnessed. The device will not cause additional harm to the victim and will not defibrillate unless a shockable rhythm is detected.
3. Compression-Only CPR does not affect the curricula or skills in current Red Cross lay responder or professional rescuer level courses.
4. Full CPR (cycles of chest compressions and rescue breaths) is still important to learn. It is critical to know what to do during an emergency. Red Cross first aid, CPR and AED training can give people the skills and the confidence to act in an emergency.
5. In addition to learning how to recognize cardiac emergencies and how to perform CPR, Red Cross CPR course participants learn what to do if someone is choking or having a breathing emergency, how to care for shock and more.
6. In the summer of 2007, the American Red Cross introduced First Aid and CPR for Everyone, an at-home kit for practicing Compression-Only CPR. The kit contains information on proper hand placement on the chest and a compression practice tool to help measure just the right amount of pressure needed to properly administer chest compressions.
7. First Aid and CPR for Everyone (FACE): An Introduction to First Aid and CPR consists of a newly designed and developed compression practice tool. The tool used to perform compression-only CPR has been engineered to give the user the opportunity to practice hand placements and giving compressions without using a standard manikin. The compression practice tool is designed to be placed on a flat, durable mat illustrating a mans chest (included with the tool).
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