“Having a full-time job on a cardiac surgical team, I know the importance of putting self as a priority. Throughout my tribulations, I have learned to take care of self, stay active, swim, workout, eat healthy and get my mind right. My gift is teaching wellness and courage. Accomplishment to me is when I see a student who has a fear of water jump into the pool; or an adult, who once complained of achy joints, now in the pool moving her legs and no longer aching. That’s good stuff,” says Agnes.
Davis’ passion as an advocate for health, wellness and swimming has been lauded and featured in national platforms, such as: Associated Press, USA Today, WBLS-FM, NBC Today Weekend, ABC News, Yahoo Parenting, Miami Herald, San Francisco Chronicle, Jones.com, The Network Journal, Washington Post, as well as Black Enterprise and Sirius XM.
Since the month of May is the ushering of warm weather throughout the United States, it is fittingly designated as National Drowning Prevention Month. According to the National Drowning Prevention Alliance drowning is the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury deaths for all ages in the United States; and the second leading cause of accidental death amongst children.
Agnes Davis’ 5 Tips to Water Safety:
- Don’t panic. Floating on one’s back and treading water are great survival techniques; this allows the swimmer to conserve energy and be in a position to signal for help
- Don’t dive into water. It’s dangerous since you can’t see the bottom of the water, and accidents can happen including serious spinal injury.
- Trust the help. Lifeguards are an important part of water safety. Only swim where lifeguards are present.
- Get a buddy. Swimming is more fun when you have a partner, please don’t swim alone
- Invest in lessons. Swimming lessons, as noted by the Center of Disease Control, is the best prevention against drowning and staying safe
Like BlackAmericaWeb.com on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Get Well Wednesday: Why Black Folks Can’t Swim And What To Do About It was originally published on blackamericaweb.com
