A diving injury generally does not leave any permanent physical damage, but there is always a chance that a disabling injury to the head or neck could leave a person seriously injured for the rest of his life. There are a number of things that swimmers and pool owners alike can do to avoid these types of injuries. For example, if you are a swimmer, knowing the water that you are diving into and your own limits, along with following basic water safety tips are probably the most important things to remember to avoid injury. If you own a pool, clearly marking diving areas and depths, along with other safety tips will greatly reduce the chances that your guests — invited or otherwise — will suffer a serious diving injury.
Before diving anywhere, there are a few basic safety tips to always remember to prevent a diving injury. First of all, experts agree that the most important tip to remember is to know the water depth, since most diving related injuries happen in eight feet (2.5 meters) of water or less. Test it first by either wading in, or jumping in feet first. It is also very important to ensure that there are no obstacles in the water that you could possibly injure yourself on. Obstacles can be anything, including trees, rocks, pool walls, or even other swimmers.
Another basic swimming and diving safety tip is to avoid alcohol and other drugs while diving. These can seriously impair your judgment, along with your reaction time and vision. A number of people who have had a diving injury were consuming alcohol or drugs prior to their accidents.
Educating yourself and practicing proper diving techniques will also greatly reduce the probability of a diving injury. Before attempting any type of dive, you should be aware of at least the basics of diving. Proper diving form includes keeping your head up and your arms raised straight above your head. If you do happen to touch bottom, your arms will be the first thing to connect, instead of your head, which can help reduce the chances of injuring your head or neck. If you are not a seasoned diver, experts strongly agree that you should avoid any complicated dives, including back dives.
While it may seem safer to some, diving into a pool as opposed to a natural water source does have its hazards. When using a diving board, test the spring of the board before jumping and never dive off of the side of it. Also, never dive in areas that are not specifically designated for diving, as this can result in a serious diving injury.
Pool owners also have a responsibility to help swimmers avoid diving injuries. First, diving areas and depths should be marked clearly. Adequate lighting, especially at night, is also important, along with the proper security, such as a fence around the perimeter of the pool. This will not only help prevent curious children from having an accident, but will help keep out any uninvited guests looking to have a midnight swim.
