Water safety

Swimming, boating, fishing, and other water sports are among the most popular forms of recreation. Yet many people lack knowledge of water safety rules or take dangerous chances. Every year, many thousands of people die by drowning. Most of these drownings would not occur if everyone knew how to swim and observed basic water safety rules. The following discussion deals with basic rules and techniques that could save your life or help you save another person's life in an emergency.

First of all, know how to swim. Many schools and recreation centres provide swimming lessons.

Never swim alone. Always swim with a companion and know where that person is at all times. Swim only in areas protected by lifeguards.
A swimming area should be free of obstacles and the water should be clean and clear. It is dangerous to swim in an unprotected ocean, river, or lake.

Water used for diving must be deep and be clear enough to see the bottom. Look for swimmers before you dive. Plan your dive and following your entry into the water, avoid hitting the bottom by steering up with your hands out in front.

Whether you are a beginner or an experienced swimmer, a knowledge of survival bobbing can help you survive an accident or other difficulty in the water. Survival bobbing enables you to float a long time on your front while using very little energy. You fill your lungs with air and relax your body. Your arms and legs hang down limply, and your chin flops down to the chest. The air in your lungs holds your back above the water's surface. When you need a breath, you quickly exhale through the nose, lift your face out of the water, and inhale through your mouth. You then return to the restful, floating position. You can raise your mouth higher out of the water for a breath by pressing your hands down or squeezing your legs gently together.

Only a trained lifequard should attempt a swimming rescue. But even if you are a nonswimmer, you can help a swimmer who is in trouble. If the person is nearby, you can extend a board, pole, shirt, towel, or similar object and pull the swimmer to safety. But be sure to lie down or keep your body low to avoid being pulled into the water. If the swimmer is too far away to reach an object, you can throw a life belt or a life jacket, a board, or any other object that will float and support the swimmer.

Vocabulary and Speech Exercises

Ex. 1. Match the word with its Russian equivalent:

Ex. 2. Read and insert the missing words from the list:

alone, obstacles, swim, companion, swimmers, clean, dangerous, clear, deep, survival bobbing, lifeguards

1. First of all, know how to _______. 2. Never swim _______.
3. Always swim with a _______. 4. A swimming area should be free of _______. 5. The water should be _______ and _______. 6. It is _______ to swim in an unprotected ocean, river, or lake. 7. Water used for diving must be _________ and clear. 8. Look for _________ before you dive.
9. A knowledge of _______ can help you survive an accident or other difficulty in the water. 10. Only a trained _________ should attempt a swimming rescue.

Ex. 3. Name the most popular forms of recreation:

Ex. 4. Name basic water safety rules:

Ex. 5. Say what you know about survival bobbing.

Ex. 6. Say how you can help a swimmer who is in trouble if you are a nonswimmer.

Ex. 7. Say:

• what basic water safity rules should every swimmer know;

• what water safity techniques should a beginner or an experienced swimmer know.

Ex. 8. Say what advice would you give to your swimmers in the pool before training.