The Only Safe Dive is the One You Never Take
Know the Risks of Diving
Someone decides to dive into the water, resulting in a life-altering injury. It’s easy, that quick, and it’s that common. It’s also one of THE most preventable causes of spinal cord injuries.
According to the National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center, diving is the fifth leading cause of spinal cord injury for men and women. And the injuries occur in swimming pools, lakes, rivers, creeks, swimming holes, and just about any water environment you can think of.
There’s No Such Thing as a Safe Dive
Any single dive can change your life and the lives of your loved ones forever. We see it every day. Our patients, who are often in the prime of their life, are commonly paralyzed and often must rely on others for help with basic tasks such as eating, bathing, dressing, and going to the bathroom. The risk outweighs any reward from diving. There is NO such thing as a safe dive.
7 Things You Can Do to Avoid a Diving Injury
- The best way to enter the water is ALWAYS feet first.
- Never dive into the shallow end of a pool.
- Know that there are often hidden objects in lakes, rivers, etc.
- Avoid alcohol when you’re swimming.
- Realize that when you dive, your body is a torpedo cutting through the water, and that water may not protect you from a severe impact.
- Just because you used to dive somewhere does not make it safe. You may have grown, and underwater surfaces may have shifted.
- Some injuries are caused by hitting the far side of a pool or swimming hole. Depth is not the only thing to be concerned about.