Diving Safety

DIVING IS A SPORT THAT ALMOST EVERYONE CAN ENJOY.

Improper diving or sliding, horseplay or roughhousing in and around swimming pools may lead to serious neck and spinal injuries which include paralysis. A number of these occur yearly, with the majority happening in shallow water. Avoid injuries by learning the basic rules for safe diving.

Don't dive off the side of a diving board -- dive straight ahead.

Don't dive from the edge across the narrow part of a pool without having at least 25 feet of clear dive path in front of you.

Don't do a back dive. Backyard pools are not built for this dangerous dive.

Don't dive at or through objects such as inner tubes.

Don't dive from racing starting blocks without direct supervision and the training of a qualified coach.

Don't run and dive -- it gives you the same impact as a dive from a board.

Don't dive from rooftops, balconies, ledges, fences or trees.

Don't dive from ladders, slides or other pool equipment.

Don't try fancy dives or dives with straight vertical entry. These dives take a long time to slow down and must be done only after careful training and in pools designed for competitive diving.

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Don't put diving equipment on a pool that wasn't designed for it.

Don't swim or dive alone.

Don't drink and dive.

Don't dive into unfamiliar bodies of water. 3 out of 4 diving accidents happen in natural bodies of water like lakes and rivers.

Do know the water depth and the shape of the pool bottom before you dive or slide headfirst.

Do be sure there are no submerged obstacles or surface objects.

Do test the diving board for its spring before using.

Do dive with your head up, arms up and extended over your head and steer up with your hands. Your extended arms and hands not only help you to steer up to the surface, they can also protect your head. If a diver's head hits bottom, major injury to neck and spine can result. Head and hands up!

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