SATURDAY, Aug. 2, 2008 (HealthDay News) -- Most people love a dip in the pool to cool off during the summer swelter, but don't let that refreshing feeling make you forgot basic safety rules.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, medical professionals in 2007 treated almost 172,000 swimming-related injuries, including fractures, strains, sprains and contusions. With a bit of common sense, many of these injuries can be prevented.
"One must remember to exercise caution while swimming, especially before diving or jumping into unknown depths of water, where many head, neck and back injuries can occur," orthopaedic surgeon Joseph Weistroffer, a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Leadership Fellows Program, said in a news release issued by the organization.
The AAOS offers these other tips to increase swimming safety:
When swimming in open water, such as the ocean or a lake:
Safety rules for diving boards include:
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about water safety.