Sumter Behavorial Health Services warns of dangers of water recreation with alcohol

With summer in full swing and the Independence Day holiday being celebrated by many this weekend, it is important to remember the dangers of combining water activities and alcohol.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "among adolescents and adults, alcohol use is involved in up to 70 percent of deaths associated with water recreation, almost a quarter of emergency department visits for drowning and about one in five reported boating deaths." On average, 10 people die every day from unintentional drowning in the United States. About 20 percent are under the age of 14, and nearly 80 percent are male. For those who are not killed by drowning, they may face a lifetime of severe brain damage.

"It is tragic to hear in the news how many accidents have already happened on our lakes this year. Recreational activities associated with water are so popular in our area, especially in the heat of the summer," said Michele Moses, a prevention specialist with Sumter Behavioral Health Services. "I don't think people realize how much alcohol impairs their judgment and reaction time. I wish people would think twice and not use alcohol if they are going to be swimming, boating; or supervising children in the water. It's just not worth the possibility of a tragedy."

Why swimming combined with alcohol is so dangerous:

- Alcohol impairs judgment and coordination. It is harder for you to perceive distances and depth. Your senses are numbed.

- Alcohol prevents quick reactions. You may have seen how hard it is for someone to walk after drinking too much;, now imagine how hard it is to swim.

- Alcohol is disorienting. When swimming and drinking alcohol, you may not realize that you are in trouble, and it may take you longer to react to get help or to swim to safety.

- Alcohol may increase the chances of hypothermia. When the body gets cold in the water, the blood is concentrated in the vital organs instead of the arms and legs, making swimming or treading water in an emergency difficult.

- Alcohol can make CPR less effective.

- Alcohol is the leading contributing factor in recreational boating deaths.

The CDC recommends the following:

- Avoid alcohol while supervising children or before and during swimming, boating or water skiing. Alcohol influences balance, coordination and judgment, and its effects are heightened by sun exposure and heat.

- Closely supervise children around water. Adults often expect children to splash and show obvious signs of distress when they are having trouble in the water. However, drowning victims - especially children - rarely are able to call for help or wave their arms, and thus usually drown silently.

- Learn to swim; make sure children can swim and float. Swimming is more than a recreational activity; it is a potentially life-saving skill.

- Learn CPR (cardio-pulmonary resuscitation). In the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, CPR skills performed by a bystander could save someone's life.

- Install four-sided fencing around a swimming pool.

- Always wear appropriately fitted life jackets when boating.

Safe boating

According to research funded by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, alcohol may be involved in 60 percent of boating fatalities, including falling overboard. A boat operator with a blood alcohol concentration of more than 0.1 percent (approximately four to five drinks) is 16 times more likely to be killed in a boating accident than an operator with zero BAC.

According to the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators, alcohol can impair a boater's judgment, balance, vision and reaction time. It can also increase fatigue and susceptibility to the effects of cold-water immersion. If problems arise, intoxicated boaters are ill equipped to find solutions. For passengers, intoxication can lead to slips on deck, falls overboard or accidents at the dock.

For more information or for help with alcohol or other drug issues, call Sumter Behavioral Health Services at (803) 775-5080.