Natural water
Beach time? Make sure the water won’t make you sick
It’s summer, and for millions of Americans, that means beach parties and swimming. In fact, we make almost 2 billion trips to the beach every year! You might think natural bodies of water are safe from waterborne illnesses. But while the water at your local beach may look inviting, there’s a 1 in 10 chance […]
Nonswimmers becoming health crisis in U.S. and U.K.
The news out of Britain is ominous for an island nation: More than 50 percent of children age 7 to 11 can’t swim 25 meters, according to a new study. This in a country where swimming is actually a required skill for graduation! In America, lack of swimming skills is becoming a serious problem as […]
Drowning sim means you’ll never go near the water without a life jacket again
You’ve heard of flight simulators and combat simulators, but now a drowning simulator is afloat online. Sortie En Mer-A Trip Out To Sea takes you to the sea, tips you over, and then leaves you with the task to struggle and stay afloat, even though no matter what, you’ll drown sooner or later. The simulator designed […]
6 ways climate change makes beaches less safe
A recent story out of the U.K. highlights another growing problem swimmers around the world are beginning to face: Climate change is making beaches and open water swimming less safe. In the U.K., the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is warning spring vacationers that violent winter storms (which many scientists attribute to climate change) have […]
How to bring cold water drowning victims back to life
With winter stubbornly hanging on throughout much of the country, there’s a small bit of comfort to be had in the midst of the cold — at least on the drowning rescue front. New research shows that cold water drowning victims can be brought back to life as long as two hours after they drown […]
OSHA needs to update underwater construction protections
Sometimes it takes a tragedy to shine a light on a serious injustice that needs to be righted. In the case of inadequate underwater construction oversite, it’s taken two. The Occupational Health & Safety Administration has cited Lucas Marine Acquisition Co. LLC, (which touts itself as “Experts in Marine Construction Solutions”) with 22 violations following […]
Will robots replace lifeguards?
Ah, the promise of technology. Watch the video above and you’re sure to think that robots — flying ones at that! — will soon replace lifeguards. The drone is even shown to beat a human lifeguard to a drowning victim by a sizable amount of time. (Remember, seconds count in drowning emergencies.) It’s not the first time […]
