Staying Safe in and Around Water: Valuable Resources on Water Safety for your Patrons and Community

Posted by Bobbi Newman on May 22nd, 2023 Posted in: Resource Sharing

As we move into warmer months here in the Midwest, many of us and our communities are thinking about spending time in or on the water. Water is an excellent source of enjoyment, relaxation, and exercise for people of all ages. However, it can also pose significant risks to our health and safety. Drowning, waterborne illnesses, and other water-related accidents can be prevented with proper education and preparation. In this blog post, we’ll explore some of the valuable resources available on water safety from MedlinePlus, the National Library of Medicine, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

MedlinePlus is a reliable online resource that provides comprehensive information on health topics for patients and their families. When it comes to water safety, MedlinePlus offers a wide range of resources, including articles, videos, and interactive tools. Some of the topics covered by MedlinePlus include:

• Water Safety (Recreational): This is a great starting point for all things related to water safety
• Drowning prevention: This resource provides information on how to prevent drowning, the leading cause of unintentional injury deaths in children ages 1-4 years. It includes tips on supervising children in and around water, the importance of learning CPR, and other preventive measures.

Staying Safe in the Water, Guard Against Germs While Swimming from NIH. Available in Spanish

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a federal agency that focuses on protecting public health and safety. It provides valuable resources related to water safety, including:

• Healthy Swimming: This resource provides information on how to enjoy the benefits of swimming while minimizing the risk of illness or injury. It includes tips on how to protect yourself from recreational water illnesses and how to maintain a safe swimming environment.
  • You can access social media and downloadable content including fact sheets, posters, and messages.
• Steps for Health Swimming: Advice on what to look for before entering pools, hot tubs, lakes, rivers, etc. Includes a printable pdf.
• Water-related diseases: This resource provides information on the various diseases that can be caused by exposure to contaminated water, inc
• Drowning Prevention: Learn about steps you can take to prevent drowning. Drowning can happen in seconds and is often silent. It can happen to anyone, any time there is access to water.

Water Safety from Kidshealth.org is available in English and Spanish. It includes links to information on pool, waterpark, bathroom and outdoor water safety. It also includes resources for parents, teens, and children.

ABOUT Bobbi Newman
Bobbi Newman (MLIS, MA) is the Community Engagement and Outreach Specialist for NNLM R6 at the University of Iowa. She is the author of Fostering Wellness in the Workplace: A Guide for Libraries. She developed the popular NNLM course “Wellness in the Library Workplace.” Bobbi is a mindfulness student and a member of Association for Size Diversity and Health (ASDAH). She currently serves as a member of the Advisory Board for Let’s Move in Libraries. She divides her time between her dog, reading fantasy and nonfiction, playing video games, crafting, kayaking, biking, and gardening.

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