For management and assurance of safe drinking water supplies, seeWater safety plan.
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 ordrowning.It has applications in several occupations, sports and recreational activities.[1][2]
A lifeguard is arescuer who supervises the safety and rescue ofswimmers,surfers, and other water sports participants such as in aswimming pool,water park,beach,spa,river andlake. Lifeguards are trained in swimming and CPR/AEDfirst aid, certified in water rescue using a variety of aids and equipment depending on requirements of their particular venue. In some areas, lifeguards are part of theemergency services system to incidents and in some communities, lifeguards may function as the primaryEMS provider.[3]
Air-sea rescue (ASR or A/SR, also known as sea-air rescue[4]) is the coordinatedsearch and rescue (SAR) of the survivors of emergencywater 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 includingseaplanes,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.[5] 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.[5]
A coastguard is amaritime security organization of a country. The term covers wide range of responsibilities in different countries, from being a heavily armedmilitary force withcustoms and security duties to a volunteer organization tasked withsearch and rescue without law enforcement authority. In most countries, a typical coast guard's functions are distinct from those of thenavy (amilitary service) and thetransit police (alaw enforcement agency), while in some countries it has similarities to both.
Arescue lifeboat is arescue 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.
Advice given to would-be rescuers of a drowning victim
TheWorld Health Organization has reported that drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury death worldwide, accounting for 7% of all injury-related deaths.[6] 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.[7][8] Organizations that offer education and training include theAmerican Red Cross, World Health Organization, andRoyal Life Saving Society UK,[9][6] but can also include for-profit businesses.
Educational tools used can include books, songs, and awareness campaigns that are targeted towards high-risk communities.[10] 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.[6] 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.[11][12] 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.[13]
There are many government and non-government bodies in the field of water safety, includingmaritimesearch and rescue organisations,lifeguard associations, and other safety organisations for which water safety is just part of their scope.[2][1][14][15]
^Cutler, Deborah W.; Cutler, Thomas J.; Wedertz, Bill (2005).Dictionary of naval abbreviations. Vol. 23. Naval Institute Press. pp. 36, 384.ISBN1-59114-152-4.
^abMarion, Forrest L. (Spring 2004). "Bombers and boats: SB-17 and SB-29 combat operations in Korea".Air Power History.51.
