Washington Week: Student Voices (O)

College students offered tips for a safe summer
By Haley Crum
Daily Mississippian (U. Mississippi)
05/30/2006

(U-WIRE) OXFORD, Miss. — Every child in America has heard it before: Wait 30 minutes after eating before jumping into the swimming pool.

Over the years many safety tips such as this one have been told to the public, but many Americans, including college students, pay them no mind. However, they may be worth a second thought.

For many college students, summer means cross-country road trips and sun-bathing on the beach, but most do not recognize the safety hazards that loom over their summer fun.

Every year, thousands of Americans die untimely deaths due to water and traffic-related accidents that could have been prevented if common safety tips had been adhered to.

According to the American Red Cross, the most important tip to remember when considering water safety is simple: know how to swim.

According to an American Red Cross press release, not knowing how to swim can create a potiential hazard not only to yourself, but to other swimmers in the area as well.

To insure that citizens are able to get proper training in swimming, the American Red Cross offers swimming lessons to every age group, regardless of swimming ability.

The American Red Cross recommends that swimmers take notice of rules, posted signs, water environment and the water's potential hazards before swimming.

Also, according to the American Red Cross, the consumption of alcholic beverages before swimming may impair the swimmers judgment, balance and swimming ability.

Safe Communities, an organization dedicated to keeping communities safe by providing "safe traffic tips" to American citizens via internet and newsletters, gives citizens tips on how to avoid traffic related accidents during the summer season.

Originally published by Traffic Safety Magazine, Safe Communities shares the abc's of traffic safety with its readers. For example, a is for alcohol.

Safe Communities says that not only is drinking and driving against the law, but three in every 10 Americans will be involved in an alcohol related crash.

Safe communities advises that in order to cut out the need to speed, try planning ahead to include any possible traffic-related obstacles in your driving schedule that may delay the expected arrival time.

Safe Communities also recommends traveling with a friend to decrease the driver's chances of falling asleep at the wheel.

For more water and traffic related safety tips, along with other safety tips for the summer, visit The American Red Cross at www.redcross.org and Safe Communities at www.safecommunities.org.

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