On Thursday, August 18, a Kenyan lady based in Canada drowned after she stepped out into a swimming pool while livestreaming it on Facebook.
Hellen Wendy, who worked as a nurse in Toronto, successfully swam for about 10 minutes before the tragedy struck.
Just 10:33 minutes, after she began recording herself, Wendy started gasping for air and could be heard making gurgling sounds while kicking and screaming.
At 11:54 minutes she made the last sound as the video went silent and the water remained still. She was discovered three hours later.
Ranked among the most dangerous activities globally, swimming accounted for nearly 200,000 injuries in sports in 2019. This is because many individuals are unaware, or actively ignore, the dangers posed by swimming pools.
Here is how to protect yourself when out swimming;
Never go swimming alone
Individuals heading out for some swimming fun are advised to never jump into the pool when they are alone on the site.
They are instead advised to cultivate a 'buddy system' that will have their back in case tragedies happen while out by the pool. The buddies may offer first aid or alert emergency service providers.
Individuals are also advised to always ensure they have a friend around even if the swimming pool has a lifeguard on site.
Read the signs at individual swimming pools
There is no universal language that governs all swimming pools the world over and individuals are advised to always read signs at individual pools carefully before they commit.
For instance, the signs may warn of the location of the pool against wildlife as well as the opening and closure time to prevent them from remaining alone on the facility.
Take care when getting in and out of the pool
Swimmers are advised to be wary of their surrounding environment at all costs to pay attention on slippery surfaces or broken ladders.
The attention will help them prevent slipping and unintentionally falling into the pool.
Avoid running
When near a pool, you are advised to walk and not run due to the slippery nature of the surfaces surround the pool.
Stay within your abilities and never be afraid to ask for help
Swimmers are urged to avoid competitiveness when out having fun and instead just stick to their abilities while at the pool.
If you are still a learner, you should always maintain the shallow end of the pool and only transition to the deeper end when comfortable you can handle it.
In case a tragedy happens, be quick to ask for help from anyone else, preferably life guards, who are already at the pool and never shy away from seeking clarity over the depth of the pool.
If inexperienced, you are also advised to wear a life jacket.
Don't panic
When in water at a swimming pool, do not panic. It is estimated that panic accelerates drowning tendencies at the pool.
When panicked, the victims begin throwing their legs and arms around thereby depleting them of energy that leaves them exhausted to balance themselves.
"The moment you make noise, begin to throw your legs and hands, energy is depleted in you and you may die in the next 5 minutes regardless of the depth of water," explained one experienced swimmer.
Do not drink
Pool parties with alcohol are all fun and games until a tragedy occurs at the pool.
Getting intoxicated at the pool lowers a person's judgement ability leaving them exposed to all the other hazards around the pool which may easily lead to their drowning.
Watch for hazards
Some of the tragedies at the pool are caused by hazards such as rocks or abandoned equipment that may be left inside the pool.
Further, inspect the pool and ensure that it is safe before jumping into the water.
First Aid training
An additional first-aid knowledge before heading out into the pool is important since it equips the you with knowledge on how to handle situations should a tragedy arise.
Training equips the users with self-rescue and skills for rescuing others as well as artificial respiration and Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) among others.
