As Texans prepare to celebrate the July 4 holiday weekend on the state’s lakes, rivers, and coastlines, a recent drowning death at Boerne City Lake serves as a reminder of the importance of water safety. Dr. Dan Murray, a divemaster instructor and owner of Dive Masters of San Antonio, shared tips with KSAT on how to stay safe on the water.
Prevention is Key
Murray emphasized that being a strong swimmer is the best way to prevent accidents. He recommended taking lessons to learn how to swim, citing the City of San Antonio’s free group swim lessons for all ages. Even strong swimmers should swim with others and have flotation devices on hand in case someone is struggling.
Murray also advised sticking to designated swimming areas and avoiding swimming too far out, where you could be in the way of boats. He cautioned against trying to rescue someone yourself, unless you have the skills to do so, as this could create two people with problems instead of one.
Natural Water Dangers
Natural bodies of water can be murky and hide rocks, branches, or other obstructions, making it essential to enter the water feet first and be cautious. Tubes and other floating toys can give a false sense of security, especially for non-strong swimmers, and are not substitutes for a proper life jacket.
Amy Niles, the river and watershed manager for the City of New Braunfels, recommended that all tubers wear life jackets. Murray also warned against consuming alcohol and drugs while engaging in water activities, advising that someone on shore should be sober and able to perform a rescue if necessary.
The Texas coast poses additional dangers, such as waves, tides, and currents. Murray advised swimmers to be cautious and look for calm areas without waves, as these can be indicative of a riptide or rip current. If caught in a riptide, he recommended swimming parallel to the shore to escape it.
The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department has additional tips on its website for staying safe on the water during the July 4 weekend.
Original reporting: San Antonio, TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
