Water safety tips as millions of Americans deal with intense heat wave
Summary
Many Americans are visiting beaches and pools to cool off during a heat wave around the Fourth of July holiday. Experts warn about the dangers of rip currents at the beach and provide water safety tips to prevent drowning incidents.Key Facts
- Over 4,000 people drown each year in the U.S., making it a leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4.
- Rip currents are the number one weather-related cause of death in some coastal regions.
- The National Weather Service issues rip current forecasts twice a day to help beaches warn visitors.
- Rip currents can pull swimmers away from shore very fast, between 1 to 8 miles per second.
- If caught in a rip current, experts advise staying calm, treading water, and signaling lifeguards by raising an arm.
- Visitors should always swim near lifeguards and check daily beach conditions and warning flags.
- Pools can also be risky; fencing and gate alarms costing $150 to $300 can improve safety.
- Basic swimming skills like treading water for one minute and swimming 25 yards are recommended for safety.
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