By Chip Mark
We are incredibly blessed to live in a part of the country that has widespread opportunities for fun in, on and around the water. Unfortunately, this also means there are countless ways for people to get into trouble.
It’s a well known statistic that drowning remains the second leading cause of accidental death among children ages 0-14. Sadly, this year, Shasta County has already seen three drownings. We are all keenly aware of the gentleman who lost his life at the Best Western Hotel earlier this spring, and more recently the mother and son who drowned at Shasta Lake a few weeks ago. The Shasta County Sheriff’s Department said that it also has had multiple river water rescues near the Highway 44 bridge construction area.
The good news is many of these tragedies can be prevented. Even when lifeguards are present, it’s important that parents are always supervising their children when in, on or around the water. There is no substitute for adequate supervision. Drownings are rarely an active event as seen on TV. Most drownings are silent and happen very quickly. To protect yourself and your loved ones, take the advice of many north state organizations such as The American Red Cross, Shasta Family YMCA, Sheriff’s Department, Redding Recreation and others (collectively known as the “Shasta Drowning Prevention Coalition”), who are encouraging the use of USGC-approved life jackets for many open water activities. Many community pools also encourage the use of life jackets during swimming activities.
Another line of defense against these tragedies is enrolling children in swimming lessons. Many organizations in the greater Shasta County area offer swimming lessons throughout the summer months and year round. The Shasta County Office of Education is aware of the importance of educating our children on water safety and have been committed over the years to providing swim lessons to first-graders. The YMCA alone has seen nearly 450 first graders from the Redding School District taking swim lessons at their facility on Court Street during this school year. These swimming lessons blend learn-to-swim topics with water safety topics designed to prevent drownings and educate our children on the importance of safe water play.
When you’re enjoying the water this summer, please remember to be “water smart.” Closely supervise children in, on and around the water, enroll in swimming lessons, and always wear a life jacket.
Chip Mark is Wellness Director for the Shasta Family YMCA where he oversees the Y’s Aquatics Department. He’s also an experienced lifeguard, and a swimming and water-safety instructor.
