Officials Urge Water Safety As Fourth Of July Weekend Approaches
Jun 30, 2021, 2:04 PM | Updated: 2:31 pm
SALT LAKE CITY — It’s already been a hot summer and temperatures will approach triple digits this holiday weekend, meaning lakes, rivers and swimming pools will be popular destinations.
LifeTime Fitness shared some pretty sobering statistics that an average of 17 children will drown during the week of the Fourth of July.
Nearly 4,000 people drown every year, which adds up to around a dozen every day — and children under the age of 14 are especially at risk.
Always wear a life jacket on Utah lakes/reservoirs. Depths are inconsistent and currents, weather patterns and cold water temperatures can quickly making swimming hard. We wear seatbelts while driving; let’s make sure we wear life jackets while on the lake. Nobody is invincible. pic.twitter.com/muq723Wc6p
— Utah DNR (@UtahDNR) June 22, 2021
Utah has already seen multiple drownings this summer, including an Arizona couple that drowned at Deer Creek State Park before a man drowned at Pineview Reservoir trying to reach his son.
Here are some of their tips you may not have thought of for swimming safety:
- The 25:10 Rule — meaning if a child can’t swim 25 yards, make sure there’s an adult every 10 feet.
- A 1:3 ratio of swimmers to non-swimmers is a good goal to have when watching children around water.
- Get CPR certified
- Invest in swim lessons
- Use Coast Guard-approved floatation devices — not just the little floaties
