Our community is fortunate to have proximity to Lake Hickory’s 4,223
acres of water and 105 miles of shoreline to enjoy many kinds of boating
and recreational water activities. But don’t forget water safety
and, should you need medical attention – Catawba Valley Urgent Care
– Piedmont offers convenient emergency medicine for non-life threatening
incidents.
In the U.S., 71 percent of all fatal boating accident victims in 2012 drowned,
and of those who drowned, 85 percent were not wearing a life jacket.
Safe Kids Worldwide offers these top tips for boating safety:
- Wear a Life Jacket – always have your children wear a life jacket
approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on boats, around open bodies of
water or when participating in water sports. Make sure the life jacket
fits snugly. Have the child make a “touchdown” signal by raising
both arms straight up; if the life jacket hits the child’s chin
or ears, it may be too big or the straps may be too loose. Babies should
not travel on a boat — including rowboats, kayaks, motorboats, and
sailboats — until they are at the appropriate weight to wear an
approved personal flotation device (PFD).
- Don’t Rely on Swimming Aids – remember that swimming aids such
as water wings or noodles are fun toys for kids, but they should never
be used in place of a U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device.
- Childproof Your Boat and Develop Some Basic Rules – explain some
basic boat rules and have everyone follow them. Children need to understand
and follow rules such as keeping their hands and feet inside the boat
at all times and not running on a boat.
- Teach Your Kids the Difference Between Open Water and Pools – swimming
in open water is not the same as swimming in a pool. Kids need to be aware
of uneven surfaces, river currents, and changing weather. Teach children
not to dive into the lake (or ocean), because you never know how deep
the water is or what might be hidden under the surface. Enroll your child
in swimming lessons when you feel he or she is ready. Teach children how
to tread water, float and actively supervise them in and around any open water.
- Don’t Mix Boating and Alcohol – a large portion of boating
accidents involve alcohol consumption by boat operators or passengers.
To keep you and your loved ones safe, it is strongly recommended not to
drink alcoholic beverages while boating.
-
Learn CPR – this should be on the top of the list. It will give you
tremendous peace of mind – and the more peace of mind you have as
a parent, the better. Contact the
CVMC Health First Center to ask about upcoming classes for CPR training.
In the event of a boating or lake accident (not life threatening), CVMC
Physician Assistant Michael Brashear says
Catawba Valley Urgent Care – Piedmont fills a special role between emergency rooms and primary care providers.
“Our providers are familiar with emergency and family medicine,”
said Brashear. “The practice is equipped with onsite X-ray and laboratory
services and offers evening and weekend house for access to care when
primary care practices are not.”
Catawba Valley Urgent Care – Piedmont is open seven days a week with extended office hours from 9:00 AM –
7:00 PM, Monday through Friday and 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM on Saturday
and Sunday. All forms of insurance, including Medicaid and Medicare are accepted.