Shelly Cartwright commentates on surf camps and summer camps for kids and teens.
Going to the beach without a lifeguard? Better think again.
Teri Naftulin runs her own beach and surf camp for kids in Los Angeles. With summer coming, she has a warning for parents everywhere: "When you take your kids to the beach," says Naftulin, "always go to one staffed by public lifeguards."
According to Naftulin, drowning is one of the leading causes of death among youth. "Your chances of drowning increase five times if you enter water with no lifeguard watching you," says Naftulin, "but if you swim at a beach staffed by public lifeguards, your risk of drowning is greatly reduced."
To see for yourself the importance of entering the ocean only when lifeguards are present, Naftulin suggests visiting the United States Lifesaving Association’s (USLA) website.
"The site is a great resource with startling statistics," Naftulin said. "For example, it shows that the risk of drowning at a beach staffed with USLA lifeguards is approximately 18 million to 1, so you’re really protected that way. But you'd be surprised how many people don’t heed this warning and enter the water withought lifeguard protection anyway."
When you get to the beach, make sure you set up in front of a staffed lifeguard tower. "That’s how we do it at camp," says Naftulin, who adds, "If there’s no lifeguard present, we play games on the beach instead of letting the kids go in the water. Then, when the lifeguard shows up, we let the kids go swimming, surfing or boogie boarding."
Naftulin offers these closing words for parents: "Even if you think your child is the best swimmer in the world, never let them go in the water without a lifeguard watching them. You will usually see signs that say, ‘No lifeguard on Duty’ when this is the case."
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