Last year I was flipping through radio stations and came upon an interview with a master lifeguard. I was riveted by him in a queasy, frightened sort of way as he discussed his decades guarding NY swim spots. His number one concern is that few people know the actual signs of drowning: they in no way resemble what you see portrayed in movies and on TV, where swimmers are shown flailing their arms and shouting for help. I was reminded of this interview a few days ago while reading “Respect for Water cuts risk of Drowning” by Jane Brody in her excellent NY Times “Personal Health” blog, in which she reviews commonsense water safety precautions such as never swimming alone, obeying all safety signs and warnings, entering unknown water feet first in a shallow area, and knowing when to use a life jacket. How do you tell when someone is struggling and needs rescue, though? Read on. [Read more…]
