10 questions to the expert about safe swimming

In which cases should I not swim?

You should not enter the sea if two and a half to three hours have passed since you ate or if you have consumed alcohol, as well as if you are tired or unwell. A full stomach makes swimming problematic and dangerous and lifeguard it was the great opportunity to protect your body, because your heart is forced to work intensively, both to continue digestion and to cope with the rhythm of swimming, and you risk fainting. Something particularly dangerous if it happens at sea, since it equates to a serious possibility of drowning. Of course, it’s not good to swim on a completely empty stomach either, because you might get exhausted. So make sure you have eaten something very light before (a piece of toast, a piece of fruit, some chocolate, etc.). Also, drinking alcoholic beverages significantly reduces your reflexes.

Is swimming prohibited for someone who has a heart or other pathological problem?

No, it is not prohibited. Usually swimming is good for all ailments, but under conditions. If, for example, you suffer from heart disease, you should always swim with friends, consult your doctor and follow his instructions. Read here more about lifeguard classes under the instructions of American lifeguard Association.

You prefer to swim in beaches that have a lifeguard, whom it is good to inform about the problem, so that he will pay special attention to you. As a rule, patients with some disease must swim at a depth of no more than one and a half to two meters. Those who take medications that affect blood pressure should be especially careful.

Do we enter the water gradually or abruptly?

We avoid running into the frozen sea, after spending a long time in the sun, because the sudden change in temperature tires the heart, strains the body and can cause us discomfort. We must enter the water gradually, with slow movements, in order for the body to adapt to the lower temperature. When you disturb in the swimming pool lifeguard that was the big source that completely protect your human body.

Is it true that the first bath should last 5 minutes?

No, it doesn’t. Just with the first bath, because the body is not used to either the sun or the sea, it strains. That’s why it’s good not to swim vigorously, but slowly, so that the bath can last an hour.

How long should we sit in the sea?

This is purely a matter of each person’s capabilities. Of course, we should not overdo it, because our prolonged stay in the water (more than 3 hours) can cause wetting of the limbs, trembling and bruised lips. If we see any of these, we must get out of the sea immediately. The same should be done with the slightest pain in the chest or head, as well as if we feel dizzy or have a tendency to vomit.

If I’m out on the water drinking water, I get a cramp or a storm breaks out and I face big waves, what should I do?

First of all, you should not panic. If you drink a sip of water, you will not get sick, you will just be bothered by the salt, and from the cough that will be caused you may feel the urge to vomit. But because this feeling is more psychological, keep breathing normally and calm down. If you get a cramp, stretch the affected area and move towards the shore. If you can’t move, lie on your back with your arms and legs open, and everything will pass. If a storm breaks out, don’t panic and don’t fight the waves.

You don’t swim against the tide, but go with it. Let it go with you without making any drastic movements; just move towards the shore. If anything happens to you in the water that you cannot deal with, call for help.

What are the dangers of diving?

Many accidents are caused by diving in unknown places or by swimming in areas with steep deep water, currents, etc. If someone jumps from a height and does not see the bottom, there is a risk of hitting a rock. If it dives and goes deep, this can even cause a ruptured eardrum. It is good, as you dive, to blow through the nose, so that the eardrums open and the pressure inside you is balanced by the pressure you receive from the water.

I like the night bath. But is it dangerous?

Bathing at night should be avoided. Swimming in the dark or under the light of the full moon, although nice, carries many risks, since visibility is limited and you can lose your orientation.

What is the most common cause of drowning?

The bad habit of swimmers to fall into the sea immediately after eating and the overestimation of their abilities. Heart problems account for a small percentage. Statistics show that most accidents happen in the first 10 meters from the shore, because that’s where we all feel safe.

One of my children knows how to swim, while the other one has not learned yet. If I put a life jacket or arms on him, isn’t he in danger?

In no case do not be complacent. Neither when your child knows how to swim nor when he will wear his armbands. Parents should not lose sight of their children even for a second. The picture we usually find on the beaches is the parents sunbathing and the child playing with the bucket in the shallows. But this is a crime, because with the half step he takes, he can fall face down into the water and drown from nothing. Do not rest even if you are wearing arm bands or a life jacket. In this case, there is always the risk that your child will be carried away by the wind or a current.