Swimming Safety Essentials
1. Avoid entering the water when extremely hungry or full. Wait at least one hour after eating to prevent cramps;
2. Test water temperature before entering. Do not swim if the water is too cold;
3. When swimming in rivers, lakes, or oceans, always have a companion present. Never swim alone;
4.Before entering the water, assess the swimming area. If danger warnings are present, do not swim there;
5. Avoid swimming in unfamiliar canyon areas. These locations often have uneven depths, cold water, and potentially dangerous obstacles underwater, making them unsafe;
6. Before diving, ensure the water is at least 3 meters deep and free of weeds, rocks, or other submerged obstacles.It is safer to enter the water feet-first;
7. When swimming in the ocean, swim parallel to the shoreline. Those with limited swimming skills or insufficient stamina should not venture into deep waters. Mark your position on the shore and monitor whether you drift too far out. Adjust your direction if necessary to ensure safety.
I. Swimming Safety
Prioritize safety while swimming and remain vigilant near water. When on sandy beaches or sandstone formations, observe your surroundings. Some beaches appear solid but may conceal cracks or hollow foundations beneath. Excessive movement can trigger sand collapses, burying individuals.When playing near the shore, be aware of the ebb and flow of the tide. During high tide, move away from the water's edge promptly to avoid being swept out to sea.
(1) Warm up before swimming. You may also splash a small amount of cold water on your limbs to help your body adjust to the water temperature quickly and prevent cramps. Avoid swimming when hungry, full, or overly fatigued.
(2) If encountering seaweed while swimming, immediately stop kicking and switch to a backstroke to quickly move away. If entangled, lie flat on your back, using one hand to paddle and the other to push the seaweed away. Avoid flailing arms or kicking legs, as this will only tighten the entanglement.If caught in a whirlpool, take a deep breath and submerge. Swim outward along the bottom until you escape the vortex before surfacing.
(3) If you experience sudden cramps while swimming: - If near shore, immediately reach land and massage the cramped area. - If far from shore, float face-up and massage or stretch the cramped area. Once the cramp eases, use your unaffected limbs to paddle toward shore as quickly as possible. - If others are nearby, shout for help immediately.
(4) Never swim in rivers during flood season.
II. Handling Swimming Accidents
Drowning First Aid Knowledge
(1) How a Drowning Victim Can Self-Rescue
When facing drowning danger, use the following simple self-rescue methods. First, relax your body. Take a deep breath, then face downward with limbs relaxed and hanging. Keep your head and the back of your neck above water until you feel the need to breathe.Second, when needing to breathe, slowly raise both arms to shoulder height while lifting one leg to belly button height and bending the other leg upward as much as possible, keeping the head steady. This conserves energy and prevents sinking. Third, tilt the head back to breathe while forcefully pushing down with both hands and kicking downward with the feet. Call for help while taking breaths.Fourth, after inhaling, return to the starting position and repeat. This cycle prevents sinking until rescue arrives. If you experience a leg cramp while swimming or after falling into water, immediately assume the backstroke position: tilt your head back to keep your mouth and nose above water. Take shallow breaths and exhale deeply to retain more air in your lungs, increasing buoyancy. This allows you to float and swim toward shore using the backstroke.
(II) How to Rescue a Drowning Person
Before entering the water, the rescuer should remove outer clothing. Approach the victim from behind or throw a life ring, board, or other flotation device. If the victim is unconscious upon rescue, administer first aid immediately.During rescue: First, tilt the victim's head to one side, immediately open their mouth, clear mud and debris from the mouth and nose, pull the tongue out to maintain airway patency. Second, the rescuer assumes a kneeling position with the victim face-down, placing the victim's abdomen across their knees and gently pressing the back; or stands upright;Use both hands to grasp the victim's abdomen, forcing water from the stomach and trachea to expel. Alternatively, place the victim's abdomen on the rescuer's shoulder and run briskly to drain accumulated water (avoid prolonging this process at the expense of neglecting artificial respiration and external cardiac compression).
If breathing and heartbeat cease, immediately perform chest compressions and rescue breathing while simultaneously applying pressure or needle stimulation to acupoints such as the Renzhong (GV26) and Shixuan (CV8). If rescue efforts prove ineffective, promptly seek medical personnel for specialized treatment. Once spontaneous breathing resumes, gently move and massage the limbs (centripetal massage) to promote blood circulation. Offer warm tea, ginger sugar water, or hot wine.(3) How to Prevent Drowning
Generally, never attempt to learn swimming alone in waters of unknown depth if you lack swimming skills. Perform warm-up exercises before entering the water to prevent cold-induced cramps. Avoid swimming when fatigued or hungry. Individuals with coronary heart disease or other serious conditions should not swim alone to prevent drowning from sudden illness during activity.Avoid hyperventilating before swimming, as expelling excessive carbon dioxide reduces its concentration in the body. This can diminish stimulation of the respiratory center, potentially leading to unconsciousness underwater without warning.
Assess your physical condition before swimming. Avoid swimming when overly full, hungry, or excessively fatigued.
Splash water on limbs before entering the water; do not jump in immediately.
If experiencing chest pain while swimming, press firmly on the chest. Exit the water once the pain subsides slightly.
For abdominal pain, exit the water immediately. It is best to consume warm beverages or soup to maintain body warmth.
The above covers essential swimming safety knowledge. We remind everyone that individuals with heart disease, tuberculosis, infectious hepatitis, pink eye, hypertension, suppurative skin conditions, scabies, otitis media, motion sickness, menstruating women, or high fever should refrain from swimming. Resume swimming only after recovery and medical clearance.