Always be aware near water

With hot 90s and triple-digit heat waves the norm during our summer days, a quick dip in the pool, creek or river is a refreshing and quick way to cool down. But before going into the water, even if all we want to do is get our feet wet, we must always remember to practice water safety to avert a tragedy. That's true whether the body of water we're near is a large lake, pool, bathtub or even a bucket. It takes only a very little amount of water, just enough to cover the nose and mouth, for a drowning to occur. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has warned that buckets filled with water or other liquids, especially the larger five-gallon size, present a drowning hazard to small children. Drowning, as defined by Healthline, is death by suffocation. Death occurs after the lungs take in water. This water intake then interferes with breathing. The lungs become heavy and oxygen is no longer delivered to the heart. We don't like thinking about this gruesome subject but we must to prevent fatal drownings as well as nonfatal drownings that can result in brain damage and other serious outcomes, including long-term disability. Drownings happen in seconds without warning. So it's imperative that anyone near or entering the water know basic swimming and water safety skills, whether they're 1 or 91. That means taking swimming lessons or a refresher course, regardless of one's age, to reduce the risk of drowning. Because accidents can happen at any time and anywhere to any age group. On June 21, a man drowned in Folsom Lake Bar at the Rattlesnake Bar entrance. The man was reportedly swimming from the shoreline toward an island with two women. The two women reached the island but the man disappeared. His body was sadly located by lifeguards in water about 15 to 20 feet deep and about 75 to 100 feet from the shore. He was not wearing a life jacket. Three weeks earlier, a 30-year-old mother drowned also at Folsom Lake after falling off a personal watercraft near Brown's Ravine. She drowned, authorities said, despite wearing a safety vest. And on Saturday, a stranded hiker was reportedly swept away and drowned in the water near the Folsom Lake inflow. Details on Saturday's tragedy have not been released, as of press time. Drowning can happen to anyone any time water is nearby. In California, there are 1.08 drowning deaths per 100,000 residents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more children ages one to four die from drowning than any other cause of death except birth defects. Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes for children ages 1 to 14. While a drowning can happen in seconds, it is preventable with swimming lessons. Teaching children to swim is a vital skill for drowning prevention, according to the Roseville Fire Department, along with other water safety measures that everyone can take to stay safe in and around the water. Serious water accidents also often occur in places not associated with swimming. Drownings happen in hot tubs, such as when someone's hair gets stuck in the drain, when alcohol is consumed or when bathers become drowsy or unconscious and then die. Bathtubs are the most common site of drowning for those with seizure disorders and for infants under 1 year old, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out. Other medical conditions such as autism and heart conditions are associated with a higher risk of drowning. Children ages 1 to 4 have the highest drowning rates with most of the tragedies taking place in swimming pools. Help them stay safe by enrolling them in multiple swim lessons. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also recommends installing fences that fully enclose pools, supervising closely, wearing a life jacket, learning CPR, avoiding alcohol and using the buddy system. This is no doubt a depressing topic but one that needs to be talked about publicly. With that said, going into a body of water, whether it's a pool, lake, river, creek or ocean, should be a treat on a hot day. Just remember to keep it safe at all times for you and everyone else around you. Respect the water.