May marks the start of National Water Safety Month 2020. Each year, several major organizations join together to spread awareness about the
dangers of drowning. That said, this year the world is in a current state of pandemic. Swimming and public gatherings rules have changed for the time being. To see what this means for the future, let’s take a closer look at National Water Safety Month 2020.
Getting to Know National Water Safety Month 2020
Overall, National Water Safety Month 2020 represents the work of water safety professionals from around the nation. The goal of this month-long event is to spotlight the many aspects of swimming and boating danger that are often missed. This includes basic home safety like installing a
pool fence and pool alarms, making sure everyone has had
swimming lessons, signing up for
CPR training, and much more.
In recognition of the popularity of swimming and other water-related recreational activities in the United States, and the resulting need for ongoing public education on safer water practices, the month of May 2019 is National Water Safety Month!
National Water Safety Month will be celebrated through educational programs, public service announcements, governmental proclamations, dealer and business promotions and the distribution of water-safety-themed materials, aimed primarily at the public.
The National Recreation and Park Association, the Association of Pool and Spa Professionals, the American Red Cross and the World Waterpark Association partnered to host this celebration of water safety. Pool Fence DIY is proud to support these efforts.
Drowning is Far More Dangerous than Most People Realize
When it comes to drowning, most people understand that there is a risk. That said, the annual rate of death and injuries is still far higher than it should be. With proper precaution, drowning is preventable. Believe it or not, according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), drowning is responsible for more deaths among children aged one through four than any other cause, except for birth defects.
Swimming and COVID-19
As everyone is aware, we are living in the midst of a worldwide crisis. There are so many unanswered questions about COVID-19 health and safety. According to the monthly drowning statistics from
Total Aquatic Programming, there has been a significant drop in drowning incidents during the month of April.
Now, the obvious reason for this is that far fewer people are heading to the beaches or community pools. This is good news for the sake of obeying social distancing guidelines. That said, private pool owners do not need to be terrified of the water. In fact, the CDC says that it is perfectly safe to swim during the COVID-19 pandemic. The water alone will not transmit the virus. Instead, we should avoid gathering in places where other people congregate, such as public pools. That’s great news for swimmers who have access to a private pool. As long as swimmers follow proper safety precautions,
swimming is still a healthy way to exercise and relieve stress during National Water Safety Month 2020 and beyond!
Stay Tuned for More Tips and Tricks
As part of our effort to support National Water Safety Month 2020, we will be highlighting specific water tips on this blog all month long. A lot of them will seem like common sense, others will be a bit more nuanced. For a taste, take a look at our most recent blog. It focused on
scuba diving safety and how participants can keep themselves safe. After all, when it comes to water safety, education is the greatest tool we have.
