Recreation and Water Safety

1
Recreation and Water Safety
Recreational activities are fun, but they can be
accompanied by the unexpected.
Common sense and caution can minimize the risk of
accidental injuries during recreational
activities.
2
Lesson Objectives
In this lesson, you will learn to

• Develop strategies for preventing accidental
  injuries that occur during recreational
  activities
• Examine the consequences of risk-taking during
  recreational activities

3
Recreational Safety
Staying Healthy and Safe During Outdoor Activities

• Know your limits. Stick with tasks that match
  your level of ability.
• Bring supplies. Plan simple meals. Take plenty of
  safe drinking water with you and any supplies to
  store foods safely.
• Wear protective clothing. The proper clothing can
  protect against the weather and poisonous plants
  and insects.
• Tell people your plans. Let them know where
  youre going and when you plan to return.
• Plan ahead for the weather. To avoid heat
  exhaustion, stay in the shade in hot weather and
  drink plenty of water.

4
Recreational Safety
Safety While Camping and Hiking

• Stay in specified campsites, and hike only in
  approved areas.
• Be knowledgeable about poisonous plants, insects,
  and snakes.
• Store food where animals cannot get to it, such
  as in a vehicle or suspended from a high tree
  branch.
• Be careful around campfires, and observe fire
  safety rules.
• Never drink water from lakes, rivers, or streams
  it may contain disease-causing pathogens.

5
Recreational Safety
Winter Sport Safety

• When skiing, snowboarding, or participating in
  other winter sports, dress in layers.
• Air trapped between layers of clothing helps
  insulate you from the cold and prevents
  hypothermia.
• Make sure the outermost layer is waterproof, and
  wear a hat.
• Always wear the appropriate safety equipment, and
  make sure its in good working order and is sized
  correctly for you.

6
Recreational Safety
Water Safety
Drowning is the second leading cause of
injury-related death. The four major causes of
drowning are

1. Failure to wear a life jacket
2. Alcohol use
3. Lack of swimming skill
4. Hypothermia

7
Recreational Safety
Swimming

• Learn how to swim. Know your abilities, and
  always swim with a buddy.
• Swim only in designated areas where a lifeguard
  is present.
• If you get a muscle cramp, relax, float, and
  press and squeeze the muscle until it relaxes.

8
Recreational Safety
Diving

• Learn the proper diving technique, and always
  check water depth before diving.
• The American Red Cross recommends a minimum depth
  of nine feet.
• Never dive in unfamiliar areas or into dark or
  shallow water.
• Make sure the area is clear of swimmers and
  floating objects.

9
Recreational Safety
Boating and Personal Watercraft

• Learn how to handle a boat or personal watercraft
  (PWC) correctly, and know the laws governing
  their use.
• Always wear approved personal flotation devices
  on boats and PWCs.
• At the first indication of bad weather, return to
  shore.
• Never ride in a boat or PWC with an operator who
  has been using alcohol or other drugs.

10
Recreational Safety
Drowning Prevention
11
Recreational Safety
Lake, River, and Ocean Safety

• Swim in supervised areas only.
• Enter feet first.
• Watch for marine warnings.
• Be aware of surroundings.
• Plan ahead.

12
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. A condition in which body temperature becomes
dangerously low is called ___________.

1. heat exhaustion
2. gonorrhea
3. hypothermia
4. syphilis

13
Quick Review - Answer
A. 3. hyperthermia A condition in which body
temperature becomes dangerously low is called
hypothermia.
Click Next to attempt another question.
14
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. Drinking from lakes, rivers, and streams is
risky because these water bodies may contain
disease-causing pathogens.

True
False
15
Quick Review - Answer
A. True. Drinking from lakes, rivers, and streams
is risky because these water bodies may contain
disease-causing pathogens.
Click Next to attempt another question.
16
Quick Review
Q. Which of the following is NOT a strategy for
preventing accidental injuries while camping or
hiking?

1. Staying in specified campsites, and hiking only
   in approved areas
2. Being knowledgeable about poisonous plants,
   insects, and snakes
3. Storing food where animals can eat it
4. Being careful around campfires, and observing
   fire safety rules

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Quick Review - Answer
A. 3. storing food where animals can eat
it Strategies for preventing accidental injuries
while camping or hiking do NOT include storing
food where animals can eat it.
Click Next to attempt another question.
18
Quick Review
Choose the appropriate option.
Q. When boating with your family, take along
adequate supplies and safety equipment.

True
False
19
Quick Review - Answer
A. True. When boating with your family, take
along adequate supplies and safety equipment.
Click Next to attempt another question.
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End of Lesson 2
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