Nature Case

Growing up meeting new people has always been a great experience. I met a new friend through baseball that had his life cut short by unfortunate event this past winter. Derek Lodestein has shown me after my whole life of being around water that no matter what things can change in the flash of a moment and you can never go back. Hearing the news of Derek passing has really shown me to take the opportunity to acknowledge everyone that comes into your life because you never know when they will be gone. Knowing the dangers of water and being able to swim could have changed the outcome of that December 29th night that changed our lives forever. Derek a member of the baseball team is one that I met and became friend that continued to me meeting his parents and talking to them even after this whole tragic incident.

If the right education was in place this incident of a young man drowning had a possibility of not occurring. If every kid was forced to learn to swim and taught the dangers of waters a lot more lives would be saved. The first problem is parents not standing up and taking responsibility around water with minors. The second problem is pools and not having the right protection around them. The next problem is Physical Education problems of cutting funds to lessons about swimming and teaching adolescence the dangers. The fourth problem is the use of improper equipment in lakes, ponds, rivers, or even pools. The last problem is kids do not have the opportunity to get in the water and take an interest in the waters. The first solution is to teach swimming and dangers at the elementary age. The second solution is that there is an opportunity in communities for parents to be taught the extreme risks that occur around water and how to take precautions. The third solution is to choose better swimming locations and know your surroundings before taking the risk.

The first problem is that swimmers use the wrong equipment that is not certified when swimming. People swimming in lakes, ponds, rivers, or reservoirs that use inappropriate equipment have led to many deaths by drowning. If the equipment is not coast guard approved then the risk of failing increases significantly compared to that which is certified. The use of inflatable tubes, floaties, or any other in open waters is an extreme danger. The possibility of a hole being punctured the air float and leaving you stranded with the possibility of being caught up in the flat inner tube. Also the life jackets need to be United States Coast Guard certified. Life jackets that are not certified do not meet the correct criteria. The different type of life jackets is also a big part as each type of jacket has a specific time it is used best in.

TYPE I (Off-Shore Life Jacket) (22 lbs. buoyancy) Best for open, rough or remote water, where rescue may be slow in coming.

Advantages: Floats you best. Turns most unconscious wearers face-up in water. Highly visible color.

Disadvantages: Bulky________________________________________ TYPE II (Near-Shore Buoyant Vest) (15.5 ibs. buoyancy) Good for calm, inland water, or where there is good chance of fast rescue.

Advantages: Turns some unconscious wearers face-up in water. Less bulky, more comfortable than Type I PFD. Inexpensive.

Disadvantages: Not for long hours in the water. Will not turn some unconscious wearers face-up in water.________________________________________ TYPE III (Flotation Aid) (15.5 lbs buoyancy) Good for calm, inland water, or where there is a good chance of fast rescue.

Advantages: Generally the most comfortable Type for continuous wear. Freedom of movement for many active water sports. Available in many styles.

Disadvantages: Wearer may have to tilt head back to avoid going face-down. In rough water, a wearer's face may often be covered by waves. Not for extended survival in rough water.________________________________________ TYPE IV (Throwable Device) For calm, inland water with heavy boat traffic, where help is always nearby.

Advantages: Can be thrown to someone. Good back-up to wearable PFDs. Some can be used as a seat cushion.

Disadvantages: Not for unconscious persons. Not for nonswimmers or children. Not for many hours in rough water.________________________________________ TYPE V (Hybrid Device) Required to be worn to be counted as a regulation PFD.

Advantages: Least bulky of all Types. High flotation when inflated. Good for continuous wear.

Disadvantages: May not adequately float some wearers unless partially inflated. Requires active use and care of inflation chamber. (Life Jackets) The table shows there are 5 different types of life preserves and each one has a specific use. The different types of floatation devices should be used in the correct designated area it was made for. Air tubes or rafts should not be used as personal floatation devices (PFD) but can be used as an assistance tool. "Do not use air-filled or foam toys, "water wings", "noodles", or inner-tubes, in place of life jackets. These toys are not designated to keep swimmers safe." (Unintentional Drowning: Fact Sheet) These are fine lines between toys and equipment that can keep you safe and alive. Using the wrong equipment is a big cause in unintentional drowning.

The lack of security and supervision around swimming pools is a big problem with minors can be a big problem. All swimming pools should have a fence surrounding the area of the pool holding all children out. The fence should have a secure gate that latches and is out of the reach of little ones. Parents seem to think that without the correct protection their kids will stay away but with drowning in pools causing on average of 300 deaths at residential homes. All toys or any other objects that could lure a child towards the water should be put away and kept where they cannot be gotten to. Toys being left out are a teaser and give the wrong hint towards time to swim. Left out toys are tempting for children to mess with along the pool edges. While swimming parent are not taking responsibility and leaving their minors in the pools unsupervised and leading to multiple instances where bad things occur. Three to five minutes is all it takes for children to go missing when left alone and for a high percentage of drowning to occur. Another big reason is the use of alcohol in pools which causes people to become ignorant. Alcohol should always be avoided when supervising kids around the water as it can lead to more of a disaster.

The next problem is schools do not see the use in teaching the dangers of the water or having kids learn to swim in physical education courses. With schools cutting programs and kids not taking the inte¬¬¬¬¬¬¬rest