Water Safety

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of four. The following are some safety tips for all parents and pool owners:

• Check the pool first if a child is missing.
• Provide adult supervision 100 percent of the time. Never leave a child alone in the pool area - not for ANY reason - not for ANY length of time.
• Most children who drown in backyard pools gain access from the house. If your pool is not fenced off from the house, completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates with child-resistant locks at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the floor on all doors leading to water. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.
• Consider installing a pool alarm and a spa/pool safety cover, but beware of a free-floating spa/pool cover. A child can slip beneath one unnoticed. Check to ensure that spa and pool covers pass minimum safety requirements set by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM). Never have the spa/pool cover partially in place since children may become entrapped under it.
• Remove ladders and steps from aboveground pools. Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area. No objects should be in the aboveground pool area for a child to climb on and into the water. Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.
• Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the requirement of constant supervision.
• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
• Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.
• Separate the deep and shallow ends with a floating safety line.
• Encourage sobriety from your guest when entertaining near the pool.
• Have a telephone at poolside. Never leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). See our training events calendar.
• Keep the following safety equipment at the poolside: non-metal reaching pole; throwing line with buoyant aid and first aid kit. Inspect safety equipment regularly. Preventative devices are only effective if they are in working order.
• Don't dive head first into shallow water or water that you are unsure of the depth.
• Store all pool chemicals under lock and key.

Tips for Travelers

The Pensacola area offers great beaches and excellent scenic settings for recreation and outdoor gatherings. Here are some suggestions on how to enjoy life in the outdoors without problems. We hope you enjoy your visit to our area and return often to experience our wonderful natural resources.

Beware of the sun
They can be deceiving, especially when the sun seems mild. The rays are most intense between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., even on overcast or cloudy days! Use sunscreen to keep the skin moist.

Be alert to these conditions...
Sunburn is evident by painful red skin, blisters, nausea, vomiting, or headaches. To minimize discomfort, stay out of the sun, apply cool compresses, and take aspirin and plenty of fluids.

Heat exhaustion is characterized by excessive perspiration, weakness, pale and clammy skin, cramps, nausea and dizziness. Lie down in a cool room, loosen clothing, apply cool, wet compresses and drink plenty of fluids.

Heat stroke, also called sun stroke, is more serious than heat exhaustion. Symptoms include rapid pulse, 104° to 106° temperature, and hot, red dry skin. You should sponge the entire body with cold towels or rubbing alcohol and seek medical attention immediately

Snakes are not uncommon on the Gulf Coast. If you are bitten by a snake, seek medical help immediately.

Biting flies and "no see-ums" are pesky natives of this area. They are more of an annoyance than a serious problem. A good insect repellent will keep most bugs away. If an insect causes a reaction, use an ice pack to reduce swelling. However, should red streaks start to appear, consult a physician.

Never swim alone!
Each year, lives are destroyed by drownings or near drownings. Most cases usually occur during the summer and involve tourists unfamiliar with local surf conditions.

Don't become a statistic. Take time now to review facts you should know about swimming when you visit our area, so you can return again and again. Never swim alone. Water doesn't have to be deep to be dangerous. People drown in shallow water just as quickly as they drown in deep water. Depths and distances are deceiving. Knowing the water and what to expect before you go swimming may save your life. You may be an expert in a swimming pool yet find yourself drowning in the surf when confronted with rip currents, sand bars and deep holes. Be careful around sand bars and deep holes. Hidden deep spots in the surf are hazardous, especially for children. Waves can dig wide holes in the bottom near shore. You may step into one while wading in very shallow water. Or you may see swimmers standing in waist-deep water far from shore. What you don't see is how deep the water is between the beach and the sand bar they're standing on. Unless you swim very well, do not try to reach the sand bar offshore. Rip currents are caused by the strong, seaward flow of water along the bottom near the shore. These currents can quickly sweep you into deep water. The rip currents are strong and sudden, but you can deal with them if you follow these tips and remember not to panic:

• If you are caught by a rip current, do not try to swim straight for the shore. The strong current can exhaust and defeat even the best swimmer.
• Stay calm and remember that the current is narrow and dies out beyond the breakers.
• If the current is weak, swim parallel to the shore until you are out of the current, then swim ashore. If the current is strong, float with it until it dies out, then swim toward the shore.

Please note: Strong rip currents form near groins, jetties and piers, and they cut deep holes in the bottom. Stay at least 100 feet from these areas.

Swimmers should use caution...
The Gulf of Mexico is ideal for swimming, sailing and snorkeling, but a few of its inhabitants may sting, stick, bite or cut you. Encounters with these creatures are rare, but swimmers should use caution:

• Jellyfish stings usually are mild but they can be painful. Apply vinegar or diluted ammonia to relieve the sting. Meat tenderizer or a paste of tenderizer and ammonia also will neutralize the toxins. Apply very warm water and hydrocortisone. Watch for signs of shock, i.e., difficulty in breathing, cold, clammy, sweaty skin, fainting or nausea. If these symptoms develop, seek medical attention immediately. These injuries are very painful.
• The Portuguese man-o-war is distinguished by a beautiful, bright blue color. It appears as a harmless "blue bubble" lying on the beach, but it is a member of the jellyfish family and contains a verypoisonous toxin. Avoid stepping on the man-o-war or trying to puncture its sac.
• Catfish can be dangerous, whether you hook one while fishing or find one along the shoreline. Catfish spines are poisonous. You will need a tetanus shot if a catfish spine punctures your skin. Once your skin has been punctured be prepared for acute pain, swelling and nausea. Without treatment you may go into shock.

Rip Currents

Rip currents are powerful, channeled currents of water flowing away from shore. They typically extend from the shoreline, through the surf zone, and past the line of breaking waves. Rip currents can occur at any beach with breaking waves, including the Great Lakes.

Rip currents can be killers. The United States Lifesaving Association estimates that the annual number of deaths due to rip currents on our nation's beaches exceeds 100. Rip currents account for over 80% of rescues performed by surf beach lifeguards.

The greatest safety precaution that can be taken is to recognize the danger of rip currents and always remember to swim at beaches with lifeguards. The United States Lifesaving Association has calculated the chance that a person will drown while attending a beach protected by USLA affiliated lifeguards at 1 in 18 million. If caught in a rip current at an unguarded beach, how you respond could make the difference between life and death.

NOAA's National Weather Service and National Sea Grant Program, in partnership with the United States Lifesaving Association, are working together to raise awareness about the dangers of rip currents. Research is also being conducted in order to develop and improve the ability to predict the occurrence and strength of rip currents. The goal of the awareness campaign and research is to reduce the number of rip current related fatalities.

A daily rip current outlook is included in the Surf Zone Forecast, which is issued by many National Weather Service offices. A three-tiered structure of low, moderate, high is used to describe the rip current risk. This outlook is communicated to lifeguards, emergency management, media and the general public.

With increasing coastal populations, rip currents will continue to be a serious hazard at surf beaches. This web site is designed to provide educational material as well as real time information about the rip current risk. The time you take to understand rip currents can help you protect yourself and your loved ones when visiting the beaches.