We love to beat the heat by visiting our gorgeous Georgia lakes in the summer. Whether you’re heading up to Lake Lanier to do some fishing or to Lake Oconee for some waterskiing, Georgia is a great place for freshwater recreation. Today, the staff at Resurgens Orthopaedics has some safety tips to keep you and your family safe during a day at the lake!
Dock Safety
Water safety begins before you even get in the boat. The dock can be a dangerous place, especially for people who don’t have much experience around them. Wear proper footwear to avoid splinters and watch for wet areas that could cause you to slip and fall. In addition, be aware that docks can rise and fall with the movement of waves, so try to maintain your balance to prevent yourself from falling into the water or hitting your head.
Diving Tips
We all know that diving into shallow water is a bad idea, but it bears repeating. Diving is one of the top five causes of spinal cord injuries in men and women, and in many cases these injuries result in paralysis of all four limbs. Diving into fresh water is generally ill-advised as it can be difficult to see the bottom in murky water and rocks or other obstacles may be present just under the surface. The best diving tip we can offer is just to avoid doing it altogether.
Water Skiing
Strapping on the water skis can be a lot of fun but it can also be risky. If you’re a first-time skier, make sure you’re going out with someone who knows what they’re doing. Always wear a life vest and helmet when skiing and don’t go out unless you’ve got at least three people in your party: the driver, the skier, and the observer, whose responsibility is to inform the driver when the skier falls.
Of course, these safety tips are only scratching the surface of lake safety. If you’re planning on hitting the lake this summer, do yourself a favor and study up on specific safety tips related to the activities you’ll be doing. From all of us at Resurgens Orthopaedics, enjoy your time at the lake and have a safe summer.