LEE COUNTY, Fla.-- 4 is in your corner to make sure you know how to stay safe while at the beach with your family.
Sally Kreuscher of the Golisano Children's Hospital of SWFL says open water can be more dangerous than pools. With a pool, you know the depth and you can hold on to the wall, if you need assistance. With open water, you don't know how deep or dirty the water is.
Most people think when someone is drowning, they wave their arms in the air or yell; this is not necessarily correct. Instinctive drowning response is what actually happens when you're drowning.
Sally says kids usually have their faces in the water and make little movement when they're drowning; they don't usually yell for help because they're trying to catch their breath. This makes it even harder to spot a child who's drowning.
Make sure you're actively watching your children, have a water watcher tag, wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life jacket and learn how to use CPR.
