Water safety

Water safety refers to the procedures, precautions and policies associated with safety in, on, and around bodies of water, where there is a risk of injury or drowning. It has applications in several occupations, sports and recreational activities.[1][2]

For management and assurance of safe drinking water supplies, see Water safety plan.

Associated industries

Manufacture of marine and aquatic safety equipment

Associated occupations

Air-sea rescue
A Royal Navy rescue helicopter in action above a boat
An Auckland Rescue Helicopter in action

Air-sea rescue (ASR or A/SR, also known as sea-air rescue [3]) is the coordinated search and rescue (SAR) of the survivors of emergency water landings and people who have survived the loss of their seagoing vessel or are otherwise in peril at sea. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships. Specialized equipment and techniques have been developed. Military and civilian units can perform air-sea rescue.

Air-sea rescue operations carried out during war have saved valuable trained and experienced airmen.[4] Moreover, the knowledge that such operations are being carried out greatly enhanced the morale of the combat aircrew faced not only with the expected hostile reaction of the enemy but with the possible danger of aircraft malfunction during long overwater flights.[4]

Lifeboat service

A rescue lifeboat is a rescue craft which is used to attend a vessel in distress, or its survivors, to rescue crew and passengers. It can be hand pulled, sail powered or powered by an engine. Lifeboats may be rigid, inflatable or rigid-inflatable combination hulled vessels.

There are generally three types of boat, inland (used on lakes and rivers), inshore (used in coastal waters) and offshore (into deeper waters and further out to sea). A rescue lifeboat is a boat designed with specialised features for searching for and rescuing people in peril at sea or in estuaries. Where practicable, lifeboats will usually perform minor salvage and towing operations to assist mariners in distress and prevent navigational hazards.

Education and training

The World Health Organization has reported that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.[5] Education and training in water safety is intended to help prevent and raise awareness of accidental drownings and other water related deaths and may include but is not limited to pool, boating, and flood safety.[6][7] Organizations that offer education and training include the American Red Cross, World Health Organization, and Royal Life Saving Society UK,[8][5] but can also include for-profit businesses.

Educational tools used can include books, songs, and awareness campaigns that are targeted towards high-risk communities.[9] Material can be tailored to the types of most common water related injuries and death that a community will experience, as well as information as to which portion of is at the highest risk.[5] Advice given in educational materials can include content such as safe pool practices, how to avoid boating hazards, and what to do during a flood or flood warning.[10][11] Examples of campaigns include Weather.gov's "Turn around and don't Drown" campaign, which educates people on the danger of driving into flood waters.[12]

Water safety organisations

There are many government and non-government bodies in the field of water safety, including maritime search and rescue organisations, lifeguard associations, and other safety organisations for which water safety is just part of their scope.[2][1][13] [14]

See also

References
  1. Staff. "Drowning and Water Safety". Water & Leisure Safety. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  2. Staff. "Water Safety". Types of emergencies. American red cross. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  3. Cutler, Deborah W.; Cutler, Thomas J.; Wedertz, Bill (2005). Dictionary of naval abbreviations. 23. Naval Institute Press. pp. 36, 384. ISBN 1-59114-152-4.
  4. Marion, Forrest L. (Spring 2004). "Bombers and boats: SB-17 and SB-29 combat operations in Korea". Air Power History. 51.
  5. "Drowning". WHO. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  6. Water safety signs and beach safety flags, BSI British Standards, doi:10.3403/30135210
  7. "CDC".
  8. "Water Safety Advice". Royal Life Saving Society UK ( RLSS UK ). Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  9. "Kids' Corner". Pool Safely. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  10. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Flood Safety Tips and Resources". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  11. "The boater's handbook: basic boat-handling and safety". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  12. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Turn Around Don't Drown®". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2019-07-23.
  13. Staff. "Vision and Mission". About us. Wellington, New Zealand: Water Safety New Zealand. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
  14. Staff. "Who We Are". Water Safety USA. Water Safety USA. Retrieved 2 February 2017.
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