Summer Swimming Safety 3 Tips for Swimming in Open Water 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.
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 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.
Know what 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 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. Falls, Forklifts, and Failing Bodies The Most Common Workplace Injuries
are all too common, OSHA statistics reveal, accounting for more than half of all warehouse injuries. Other pieces of equipment can create similar hazards, and cars are not excluded from this list. If you drive on the job, it’s essential to take it seriously and practice safe driving techniques. Overexertion and Repetitive Stress Injuries Even if your job involves sitting in one place for eight hours, that doesn’t mean you can’t be hurt. Physical and mental overexertion can take a toll on the body, as can working grueling hours in suboptimal conditions. Repetitive stress injuries can occur when workers perform tasks on a regular basis without proper equipment, training, and supervision. No matter how much you know and how careful you are, injuries will happen. If you’re injured at work, call Coye Law Firm today at 407-901-2712 to find out how we can help.
According to the National Safety Council, an American worker is injured on the job once every seven seconds. That adds up to roughly 4.6 million workplace injuries per year. While we may associate on- the-job injuries with high-risk professions like logging or firefighting, no industry or role is exempt from the possibility of an accident. If you have a job, you can get hurt doing it. As such, it’s helpful to know the most common types of injuries reported to workers’ compensation insurance companies. Understanding where danger might be lurking is an important step in avoiding it. Falling Objects, Falling From Heights, and Other Falls Whether you work in retail or construction, an object falling from heights can put you out of commission in a hurry. If you work in an environment where that is a risk, you should always wear a hardhat. A person can fall just as quickly as an object, and the results can be even more drastic when they do. Anyone working from heights should be properly trained and provided with working safety equipment. Failure to provide fall protection is the No. 1 complaint reported to OSHA, and slips, trips, and falls are the largest category of workplace injury. Equipment and Transportation Working with heavy machinery requires specialized training for employees and regular maintenance for machines. Forklift accidents
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