Summer comes and goes in a flash, but the danger of accidental drowning still exists as the season winds down.According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 4000 people a year die from accidental drowning, with about 60 percent of those drownings happening in swimming pools. "If there were more lifeguards or at least trained family members there to supervise, I would say at least 30-40 percent of those victims would have been saved" said Dr. Larry Tethers, who works with the CDC.But someone needs to certify those lifeguards or family members.
Companies like Lifeguard Training NY do all of that and more."The classes we offer are life guarding, junior life guarding, swimming, CPR/AED, First Aid and emergency oxygen" says Lifeguard Training NY owner Mordechai Eliyahu who is a lifeguard instructor, Firefighter, EMT-CC and rescue diver. "We have students from Nassau County, Suffolk County, Brooklyn, Queens, all over New York City, all over New York to get ready for a potentially very busy summer season."After passing the life guarding class, all students receive a Red Cross life guarding certificate that is valid for 2 years."Health care providers, such as doctors, nurses, paramedics and even police officers, need to get their CPR certification renewed every year and we take care of that too" Eliyahu said.
Another danger still lurking, is on the beach.Riptides cause hundreds of drownings each year, but what should you do if you happen to get caught in one?"Just relax, do not panic under any circumstances" Eliyahu said. "Your first instinct may be to swim against the current, back to shallow waters. In most cases, even if you're a strong swimmer, this will only wear you out. The current is too strong to fight head-on. Instead, swim sideways, parallel to the beach. This will get you out of the narrow outward current, so you can swim back in with the waves helping you along."He also mentioned that if it's too hard to swim sideways while you're being dragged through the water, just wait until the current carries you past the sandbar. "The water will be much calmer there, and you can get clear of the rip current before heading back in" he said.