US Army Corps

of Engineers

Swimming Safety

Teaching the Basics

of Avoiding Water Accidents
to Soldiers

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps Drowning is second leading cause of
of Engineers
accidental death for people 0-44 years old

Drownings on Belton and Stillhouse Hollow Lakes

• 25% are soldiers or dependents of soldiers
• 2 main causes are swimming activities and boating
activities
• 85% are Male
• Almost all knew how to Swim
• Many drownings are within 10 feet of safety and are
people who did not intend to be in the water
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers

TOP TEN

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

10. Over Estimating One’s Ability

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

9. Falling Off Flotation TOYS

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

8.Cold Water –
Hypothermia decreases
physical ability

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

7.Falling in Without Intending to

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

6. Swimming after wind-blown objects

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

5.Wading off
Steep Drop-off

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

4.Jumping
Off Cliffs or
Bridges
or other High
Risk
Behaviors

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

3. Trying to Rescue
Someone Else

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Causes of Adult Swimming Fatalities
US Army Corps
of Engineers
TOP TEN

2. Alcohol or Drug Use

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps Causes of Adult Swimming
of Engineers
TOP TEN Fatalities

1.Not admitting you are

a poor swimmer
(to yourself or to your
group)

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps
of Engineers Drowning is called the “Silent Killer”

Recognize the Drowning “Look”

• Drowning is called the “Silent Killer”

• Vertical in water, head back, arms out,
working to keep head out of water

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps Ways to Decrease Swimming
of Engineers
Drownings in Open Water

• Education - Teach Basic Water Safety Concepts

• Teach “Reach, Throw, Row- Don’t Go!”
• Natural Hazards – Lake level Changes at BN/SH,
- Flash Flooding (Turn Around-Don’t Drown)

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps Ways to Decrease Swimming
of Engineers
Drownings in Open Water

•Watch Your Children – Stay within an arm’s reach

• Swim with a Group – (Battle Buddy = Swim Buddy)
• Easy on the Alcohol
• Respect the Water – It is very unforgiving.
• Respect The Weather - It can change fast.

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps
of Engineers Summary
Summary of
of Swimming
Swimming Safety
Safety

• Know Swimming Safety Rules

• FOLLOW them
• Avoid high risk behaviors
• Swim with a buddy
• Easy on the booze

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps
of Engineers

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 Sport Utility Boats (SUB)
US Army Corps
of Engineers

The fastest growing area

of Recreational Boating.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 What’s an SUB?
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Canoe
• Kayak
• Rowboat
• Pedal boat
• A Vessel NOT engine powered
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers
VSCs For SUB

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 LIFE-JACKET
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Each person must have an

approved type I, II, III, or V PFD. 

• The PFD should be worn

whenever under way.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers
Types of Life Jacket

• Type I – recommended for use in offshore or rough waters where rescue may be delayed;
will turn an unconscious person over onto their back; available as inflatable or inherently
buoyant personal floatation device; offers 22 lbs. and 34 lbs. of buoyancy.
• Type II – classic life jacket recommended for near shore boating activities where there is
a chance of quick rescue; many designs and styles available for both children and adults;
available as an inflatable, inherently buoyant, or hybrid personal floatation device; offers 7,
11, and 15.5 lbs. of buoyancy.
• Type III – floatation aid that is comfortable to wear, and comes in many styles suitable
for varied boating activities for both children and adults; for use in calm waters in an area
with a good chance of fast rescue; available as an inflatable, inherently buoyant, or hybrid
floatation device; offers 9, 10, 11, 15.5 and 22.5 lbs of inherent buoyancy.
• Type IV – a throwable PFD required on boats 16 feet or longer; available in cushion or life
ring style; offers 16.5, 20, and 32 lbs. of inherent buoyancy.
• Type V – special use PFDs such as work suits, work vests, and hybrid PFDs that combine
internal floatation with inflation for added buoyancy; available as an inflatable, inherently
buoyant, or hybrid floatation device; offers 7.5, 11, 15.5, 22, and 34 lbs. of buoyancy.

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

SOUND PRODUCING
US Army Corps
of Engineers

DEVICES

• All vessels must have a

means of signaling.
• SUB can meet this
requirement with a
marine distress whistle. 
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 VISUAL DISTRESS SIGNALS
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• SUB must comply with

Federal and State VDS
requirements.
• If required they must have
three flares on board or an
equivalent number of
alternative USCG approved
signals. 
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
NAVIGATION
of Engineers
LIGHTS
• Navigation Lights are required on
all vessels operating at night and
during periods of reduced visibility.

• A flashlight in good working order

with spare batteries can be used on
SUBs. One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers

Arizona Requirements

• All watercraft except • All Watercraft 16ft

sailboats and certain or longer except
racing shells must canoes or kayaks
have at least one life shall have at least
jacket Type I, II, III one Type IV Jacket.
or V for each person
aboard. They must be
serviceable, readily
accessible and fit the
intended wearer.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers

Arizona Requirements cont.

• All Children 12 and • Any Towed person

under will wear a life shall wear a buoyant
jacket, type I, II, or belt or PFD.
III while on any
vessel.

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps
of Engineers

Arizona Requirements cont.

• No person under the • When operating a

influence of PWC (personal
intoxicating liquor or water craft), the
drugs, to the rider must wear a
slightest degree, type I, II, or III life
shall operate or be jacket.
in physical control of
any motorized
watercraft.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 STATE AND LOCAL
US Army Corps
of Engineers

REQUIREMENTS
• The SUB must comply with all
state and local requirements. 
 
• Check the boating safety web
page for additional safety
requirements. 
www.azgfd.gov/boating
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 ADDITIONAL ITEMS RECOMMENDED
US Army Corps
of Engineers

FOR ALL SPORT UTILITY BOATS

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 FILE A FLOAT PLAN
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Information about the operator,

the vessel, and transport vehicle.

• The route of travel, date and time

of arrival and departure.

• Posting a float plan with friends is

a great life insurance policy
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 USE A SPRAY SKIRT
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Learn how to properly attach the

spray skirt and how to remove it in
an emergency
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers

CHECK THE
WEATHER

• Monitor weather conditions. 

• Bring a weather radio or use a VHF
radio with a weather channel. 
• Check sky and sea conditions.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
FIRST AID KIT
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Pack a
waterproof
First Aid kit.

• Take basic
first aid and
CPR training.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers
HAT OR HELMET
• Wear a Hat. 

• Wear a Helmet
for rapids and
rough seas.

• Use Sunscreen.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
 WATER,
SNACKS, AND
US Army Corps
of Engineers

CLOTHING
• Bring drinking water, snacks
and clothing.
• Dress properly for existing and
expected weather conditions. 
• Cold water requires the use of
wet orOnedry suits.
Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps

RESCUE GEAR
of Engineers

• Bring throw
bags, tow lines
and other
rescue gear.

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 SPARE PADDLE/OAR
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Pack a spare paddle or oar and

secure it to the boat. 

• Use a paddle leash attached to

a forward fitting or bungee cord
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
VHF RADIO, GPS, COMPASS
US Army Corps
of Engineers

• Bring a VHF
Radio, GPS, and
Cell Phone.

• Bring a hand held

compass as a
back up.
One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation
US Army Corps
of Engineers
OTHER ITEMS

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 BOATING SAFETY
US Army Corps
of Engineers

COURSE
• All boaters should
take a Boating
Safety Course.

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 SMART START FOR
US Army Corps
of Engineers

PADDLERS

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 US Army Corps
of Engineers

BUDDY SYSTEM
• Bring a friend.
• It is always
safer to paddle
in a group.

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

 US Army Corps
of Engineers

SUMMARY
• Types of Vessels
• Registration
• Minimum Safety Equipment
• Safety Plans and considerations

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation

US Army Corps
of Engineers

QUESTIONS?

One Corps Serving The Army and the Nation