Make water safety a summer priority: Protect lives at pools, beaches, and on boats

As summer approaches, our communities eagerly embrace the joys of swimming, boating and waterfront leisure. From serene backyard pools to the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean, aquatic activities are integral to our seasonal traditions.

With their pleasures, however, comes a paramount responsibility: ensuring water safety for all.

Effective Jan. 1, New York state mandated that all operators of motorized vessels, regardless of age, possess a valid boating safety certificate. The requirement, established under Brianna’s Law — named in memory of 11-year-old Brianna Lieneck, who lost her life in a 2005 boating accident in the Great South Bay — is intended to make our waterways safer.

To comply, boaters can enroll in approved safety courses, available both online and in-person. The BoatUS Foundation offers a free, state-approved online course, allowing participants to print a temporary certificate as soon as they complete it.

Additionally, the New York State Parks Adventure License program enables boaters to have an anchor icon added to their driver’s license, signifying the completion of the course and eliminating the need to carry a separate certificate.

Water safety obviously extends to backyard and public swimming pools and to the many miles of New York beaches. Drowning remains a leading cause of accidental death among children.

To mitigate risks:

• Always watch children closely when they’re in or near water. Avoid distractions, even if lifeguards are present.

• Install fences with self-latching gates around pools to prevent unsupervised access. State law requires fences to be at least 4 feet high, and they must completely surround a pool and obstruct any access. The bottom of the fence cannot be more than 2 inches off the ground, and openings in the fence cannot exceed 4 inches.

• Teach children to swim, learn yourself if you never have, and understand water safety rules.

• Ensure that supervising adults are trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, to respond effectively in emergencies.

• State law stipulates that children under 12 must wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets on boats smaller than 21 feet. While adults on larger vessels can use their discretion, having accessible life jackets for all passengers is essential.

• At public pools as well as at the ocean, pay attention to lifeguards, those sentinels of the water who are trained to keep swimmers safe from danger. They identify hazards such as the Atlantic’s rip currents — narrow, fast-moving channels of water moving directly away from the beach that can form in a matter of seconds and carry even the strongest swimmers out with them.

When you arrive at the beach, ask the guards about areas where rips are likely to appear, and swim between the green flags; red flags mark the areas where swimming is prohibited.

If you get caught in a rip, stay calm and swim parallel to the shore, and in the short time it will take you to work your way out of it, a fast-stroking lifeguard will likely greet you with a rescue buoy, having seen your struggle begin from his or her perch on the beach.

Another danger is after-hours swimming. When lifeguards aren’t on duty, people who may be inebriated, or under the influence, or simply not good swimmers go un-monitored, and that’s when, predictably, most drownings happen.

Finally, keep in mind that it will be weeks before the ocean warms up enough for comfortable swimming. In the meantime, cold water quickly saps energy, which creates another early-season hazard for swimmers. Know your limits as a swimmer, and keep the same in mind for your children.

Water safety is a shared duty. Whether you’re supervising a pool party, enjoying a day at the beach or navigating a motorboat, adherence to safety protocols protects lives. Let’s ensure that our waters remain a source of joy, and not tragedy, and make this summer safe and enjoyable for everyone.