Tips for staying safe at a swimming hole
Rosemary Ponnekanti
We’ve deliberately omitted swift- flowing rivers and ocean beaches in
this story, but there are risks wherever you swim, and every summer brings drowning tragedies. Stick with these rules:
• With the exception of Lake Washington, no lifeguards are on duty at these swimming spots. Know your limits and be vigilant in supervising kids. Don’t jump or dive into water without first testing the depth. Never dive into shallow water. Avoid swimming for one hour after a meal. Don’t swim alone. Don’t swim during thunderstorms or at night.
• Save a life – learn CPR.
• Wear sunscreen. Don’t spoil your swimming day with a painful sunburn.
• Leave the alcohol at home, but do bring food and water, especially to swimming holes far from town.
• Don’t leave anything in your car, valuable or not.
