About 49 percent of all vacationers go to tourist attractions involving water, according to the Statistic Brain. The allure of water is something that nearly every human feeling. Hence, it is natural that people would flock to beaches or ancient riverside cities. Whatever the destination, however, if there is water, there is always the risk of drowning. To ensure that your next trip will be full of wonderful memories for your scrapbook without worries, here are some of the most common types of water safety hazards that tourists face on vacation.
Freshwater Risks
Many tourist spots are close to inland bodies of water such as lakes and rivers. Although there can be a large number of people in a certain destination, these bodies of water are more often than not unsupervised. Therefore, there is a possibility of falling into the water without anyone noticing or being capable of helping. Collapsing riverbanks and slippery sloping shores can exacerbate this problem. Once in the water, submerged objects, uneven riverbeds, and strong currents present further dangers. It is important to remember that rivers can look deceptively still. Current speed is not always apparent from the water surface. If you wish to swim in inland waters, it is best to test the current and temperature by dipping your legs first. Diving is ill-advised, as doing it improperly can cause spinal injuries. You should also remember that you are less buoyant in fresh water, and thus would need more effort to stay afloat.
Beach Attractions
Although the most populated and most monitored of all water-related tourist attractions, the beach still presents plenty of danger. 40 percent of all drownings occur only two meters from the shore, according to the International Life Saving Federation. It could be due to people growing complacent because there are so many people around. This may cause them to forget the basic drowning risk factors because of the false sense of security in numbers. It is important that you keep at least one person near you at all times. However, beach safety entails more than bringing a friend with you. Most beach drownings occur when the lifeguard is not present. So it is vital that you do not swim at night unless an experienced swimmer is watching over you and you do not venture too far from shore. Swimming under the influence is also unwise. In some areas, rip currents are a major hazard. If such currents are common at the beach you are visiting, always swim insight of a lifeguard, and never swim alone or at night.
Swimming Pool Hazards
Even when you are simply relaxing at the pool of the hotel you are staying at after a long day of touring around, you are still vulnerable to drowning hazards. While this is less of an issue for adults, this is of grave concern to children, especially those under the age of 5. If you have children with you, never let them swim unsupervised. As for adults, diving is one of the biggest sources of injury. It can be perilous if done in a part of the pool that is too shallow. The risk of hitting one’s head and falling unconscious underwater is high. This almost guarantees that you will end up drowning if no one notices that you have been underwater for too long. Colliding with someone else when diving can also happen if you don’t check your landing point first. In the worst case, this can result in paralysis.
Tourist destinations have the potential to give you memories that you will never forget. Staying informed and taking the necessary precautions can mean the difference between those memories being good or bad.
