SUMMER SWIMMING SAFETY
3 TIPS FOR SWIMMING IN OPENWATER
or wade, but jumping is out of the question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. WATCH FOR RIP CURRENTS. These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly pull away from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current.
There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun. NEVER SWIM ALONE. When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc. KNOWWHAT YOU’RE GETTING INTO. Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim JACKIE CHAN INSPIRING ACTOR, SINGER, STUNTMAN, AND MARTIAL ARTIST When you hear the name Jackie Chan, you may think of his most prominent films, like “Rumble in the Bronx,” “Drunken Master,” the 2010 remake of “The Karate Kid,” or “The Foreigner.” Although he is famous throughout the United States as a martial artist and actor, Chan didn’t start out that way. HISTORY At age 7, Chan’s parents left to find work in Australia, leaving him behind to study at a strict school. For 10 years, he remained at the institute, studying singing, drama, acrobatics, and martial arts, which helped him in all his later careers. After graduating, he began working as a movie stuntman and acrobat. One of his most notable jobs was his work in “Fist of Fury,” which starred Bruce Lee. STYLE Many people have watched his unique style of martial arts unfold in his films. While he was at school, he learned southern and northern styles of martial arts and later combined them with boxing, karate,
hapkido, and slapstick humor. By creating his own fighting style, Chan managed to break away from the legacy Lee created and start his own.
STUNTS Chan is known to do all of his stunts himself, no matter how dangerous. In an interview with Steve Harvey, Chan denies the rumor of having broken every bone in his body. “Not every bone,” Chan says. “But I can say every inch, from the head to my toes [has been] scratched, bruised, yes.” One of his most serious injuries occurred during the filming of “Armor of God.” Chan jumped from the top of a building into a tree, but the branch broke. He hit the ground, cracking his skull and lodging a piece of it into his brain. Chan had to be rushed into brain surgery, and while he made a complete recovery, he now has a hole in his head with a plastic piece that, as Chan puts it, “keeps my brains in.”
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