The City of Austin encourages you to prepare for summer heat and enjoy summer safely. Help you and your loved ones stay safe in the heat and the water by doing your part to prepare!

Water Safety

Swimming Pools and Open Bodies of Water Safety Tips from Austin Travis County EMS

There are additional precautionary measures one should take that are specific to this type of body of water. Water enthusiasts should be aware of the different safety hazards and prepare accordingly.

Swimming Pools - In addition to the above safety tips, observe the following safety tips specific to swimming pools:

• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards and always obey pool rules.
• Be aware of depth markers before jumping or diving in.
• NO running in the pool area.
• Only dive off the diving board, never off the side.
• Also ensure the landing area is clear of other swimmers before diving in.
• Keep pool area secure with appropriate barriers/fences when not in use.
• Have appropriate, easily accessible rescue equipment.
• Consider a lightning detection alert system for your pool.

The American Red Cross recommends enrollment in home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.

Lakes, Rivers, and Other Open Bodies of Water - There are some special considerations to be taken when swimming in open bodies of water as swimmers often must share the lake with wildlife, boaters and other recreational water vehicles. In addition to the above safety tips, observe the following safety tips specific to open bodies of water:

• Know your location and, if on a boat, be able to give a description of the boat you are on in case of an emergency.
• Know how many people are in your group and perform periodic headcounts to ensure all guests are accounted for.
• If someone is missing, know where the person was last seen and what he/she was wearing.
• Protect your feet from jagged rocks, broken glass, or other sharp objects by wearing water shoes.

Boat Safety and Carbon Monoxide (CO) Emissions - Boaters should refrain from idling the motor for extended periods of time. Swimmers should stay away from exhaust vent areas and avoid swimming near or under the swim platform or back deck. Carbon monoxide is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. The CO emitted from boating traffic can pose a serious threat to boaters and swimmers.

Early symptoms of CO poisoning are:

• headache
• nausea
• weakness
• irritated eyes
• dizziness.

These symptoms are often confused with intoxication or motion sickness.

Bacteria - Refrain from swimming after flooding or heavy rains. Unlike swimming pools, natural waters are not chlorinated or disinfected. The risk of bacterial infection increases after heavy rains due to hazardous matter washing into the lakes and streams.

Water Depth Visibility - Do not jump or dive into the water if you are uncertain of the depth of the water. It can be difficult to determine how deep the water is and jumping into shallow water can cause serious injury or death.

Reptiles, Insects, and Other Critters - Stay away from wildlife. Swimmers share the water with many animals, reptiles, insects, and other critters. The number of occupants increases after heavy rains and flooding. It is best to refrain from swimming in lakes and rivers after major rains and flooding.