What are the most common dental problems?

 

No one likes going to the dentist, but the longer you avoided it, the more time you will ultimately end up spending in the dentist’s chair. There are a number of problems ignoring your teeth can cause and there are some that may be no fault of your own. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with common dental problems before you go to your next dentist appointment.

1. Stained Teeth

Medications such as tetracycline and doxycycline have been known to cause stains on teeth. Unfortunately, whitening toothpaste only removes surface stains and they will reappear after a little while. A dentist will use a special light and a whitening agent to remove stains.

2. Cavities

Cavities are caused when plaque builds up on your teeth. Plaque is a bacteria that causes holes in your teeth. You should brush a minimum of two times a day and use a fluoride rinse. Flossing it's just as important as brushing your teeth if not more. You should avoid drinking fruit juices, soda, and sports drinks.

3. Impacted Teeth

When a child gets their adult teeth sometimes they do not erupt correctly. The tooth may be caught against soft tissue or even another tooth. If it causes pain, an oral surgeon can remove the tooth.

4. Sensitive Teeth

If your teeth hurt when you eat a Popsicle or when you drink tea, it might be because you have worn out tooth enamel or a cavity. You may also have a fractured tooth or exposed roots. Your dentist will be able to tell you what is causing the problem after you have had an examination. There are some people who have sensitive teeth and will have to use special toothpaste.

5. Hypodontia

Most people have 32 teeth but some were born with a few less. People who have this condition can experience intense pain. It is a fairly common dental abnormality. It generally affects the second premolars and the upper lateral incisors. The teeth may be smaller than usual.

Oftentimes hypodontia is associated with a cleft palate or Downs Syndrome. It affects both the appearance of the teeth in the functionality of them. They are sometimes treated with orthodonture or partial dentures.

6. Toothache

An old fashioned toothache is one of the most common reasons a person goes to the dentist. It may be caused by gum disease, a cavity, or grinding your teeth. You can dull the pain of a toothache by rinsing your mouth out with salt water brushing often and flossing and taking aspirin or ibuprofen.

7. Crooked Teeth

Very few people have perfectly straight teeth. Getting braces has almost become a rite of passage. There are several options for braces nowadays. You can get Invisalign to wear during the day, invisible braces. or even traditional metal braces.


Finding a Dentist

 
Finding the perfect place for dentistry in the Charlotte area can be challenging. You should look for a multi-service dental office, that offers both pediatric and adult dentists. Make sure they have good reviews and a good reputation with the Dental Board.
 

Authoritative Sources:
https://pixabay.com/illustrations/tooth-dental-care-white-white-teeth-2414909/
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/birthdefects/downsyndrome.html

This is a guest blog entry.

3 Ways to Protect Yourself in a Personal Injury Claim

When someone gets injured because of the negligent actions of another, that is called a personal injury. In these cases negligence means that the person who caused the accident did not intend for anyone to get hurt, but that their negligent actions led to an injury nonetheless. There are not usually any criminal charges in a personal injury case because the act does not rise to that level. Instead, the victim of the accident is entitled to receive compensation for their losses from the insurance company of the responsible party.

In order to get that compensation, they will need to file a personal injury claim, and if they need to file a personal injury claim, then they will need the help of an attorney. An attorney can help them to prepare and file the claims and they will negotiate with the insurance company to make sure that their client gets a fair settlement. If you live in New York and have suffered a personal injury, then contact Long Island personal injury Harrison to get the help that you need as well as advice on how to protect your personal injury claim.

Preparing For a Personal Injury Claim

A personal injury claim is very important because it is possibly the only way for the victim to be compensated for the losses they suffered in the accident. That is why they will need to protect themself as much as possible so that they can avoid any potential setbacks that can hurt their case. The following are some of the actions that they will need to take.

Hire a Lawyer

This is the most important thing that a personal injury victim can do because the attorney will know how to handle the case from start to finish and will know how to maximize their client’s settlement amount so that all of their injury-related expenses are covered. The victim does not have to worry if they cannot afford an attorney because most personal injury attorneys work on a contingency basis. That means they only get paid if the case is successful, in which case they receive a percentage of the settlement amount. So there is no risk and potentially a lot of rewards to hiring a personal injury attorney.

Seek Medical Treatment Immediately

Medical treatment is important for both the accident victim’s health and their personal injury claim. The reason is that some injuries may not manifest immediately and can show up some time after the accident. So getting treated early can allow a medical professional to treat those injuries before they get worse. This is important because if the accident victim waits too long to see a doctor, not only will their injuries worsen, but the insurance company might try to claim that those injuries were not caused by the accident. If they make that claim, then they will reject the compensation for any medical expenses needed to treat them.

Keep a Detailed List of Injury-Related Expenses

This list should include medical bills, prescriptions, any necessary medical equipment and/or accessories, and so on. Any property that got damaged in the accident and needed to be repaired or replaced should be included in the list of expenses as well. It is important to keep track of all out of pocket expenses so that the attorney knows exactly how much compensation to demand from the insurance company.

The accident victim should also let their attorney know about any pain and suffering they are feeling as well as the emotional and psychological impact the accident had on them so that those can be included in the compensation demand as well. They do not have any intrinsic monetary value, but attorneys and insurance companies use a formula to determine how much the emotional and psychological trauma caused by the accident is worth.

Follow These Steps To Protect Your Personal Injury Claim

The insurance company will try every trick in the book to reduce or reject your personal injury claim so you need to do all that you can to protect it and make it hard for them to say no. That is why the first thing you need to do is contact a skilled and experienced personal injury attorney to help you. They can offer advice, help you to make your claim as airtight as possible, and maximize the settlement amount so that all of your expenses are covered. So be sure to find a good personal injury lawyer to help you protect your claim if you were in an accident that was caused by negligence.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Break Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits

Nobody is perfect. Everyone struggles with vices, addictions, and bad health habits that affect their well-being. The key to living a healthy and happy life isn’t about avoiding poor health choices, but overcoming them. Of course, breaking a bad lifestyle habit is easier said than done. Indeed, a smoker of twenty years will likely have trouble giving up cigarettes cold turkey. However, it is possible for anyone to make positive changes to their lifestyle for the benefit of their health. And these five tips can help you along the way. Check them out here: 

Talk to a Doctor

When it comes to improving your health and wellness, there are few single actions as beneficial as scheduling an appointment with your doctor. Not only can doctors help you identify bad habits, but they can provide you with meaningful advice to cut them out. What’s more, they have access to a wide variety of tools and resources –– like 2 ml serological pipettes –– that they can use to treat and diagnose medical problems that may currently be bothering you. 

Address the Issue

The first step to solving a problem is admitting that you have one. The bad news is that it can be very difficult for some individuals to even recognize that they engage in destructive or detrimental behaviors. Still, if you don’t acknowledge the issue, you’ll never be able to make positive changes to correct it. 

Find Support

Breaking a bad habit all on your own can make a person feel incredibly isolated or depressed. As such, it’s generally a good idea to find friends and family members who can offer you encouragement and advice when you need it most. In addition, you may consider joining a supportive group with individuals who understand your problem from firsthand experience. These people can share tips and let you know if key healthcare changes happen.

Start Small

Every 1,000-mile journey begins with a single step. Though it can be very frustrating to make only incremental progress, it’s better to cut down on a bad habit than to give up altogether. Indeed, many individuals find they have to “wean” themselves off of bad behaviors over a long period of time.  So don’t get frustrated if the progress you generate early on doesn’t seem all that impressive. It will work out in the long run. 

Bounce Back

Progress rarely occurs in a linear fashion. The sad reality is that most people have trouble kicking bad habits, and they’re likely to experience several setbacks when they try to improve their lifestyle. This is to be expected. The key to success in any difficult venture is learning how to bounce back and respond to adversity. Everyone has bad days from time to time –– just don’t let them define you!

This is a guest blog entry.

How Is CBD Useful For Athletes?

It is no surprise to see that CBD appeals to a wide range of people. After all, it offers a very wide range of benefits, and everyone has different needs. For today, we will be focusing on the specific needs of athletes. There are several key ways in which CBD can be useful for those who are involved in regular athletic competition, so let's go over a few of the more important ones.

1. CBD Is A Good Anti-Inflammatory

Let's face it; injuries are a normal part of every athlete's life. When you are constantly trying to push your body to the limit, there will always be the danger that you will go too far. When that happens, injury is the most common result. However, people who are competing at a high level become injured, there will invariably be a lot of pressure for them to return. 

We certainly wouldn't advise an athlete to rush their recovery, but we also know that most of them will be eager to return to the field. That's where a good anti-inflammatory medication can be helpful, but a lot of the traditional options (like ibuprofen and acetaminophen) can cause stomach problems after prolonged use. CBD represents a much safer way to soothe inflamed muscles and joints between games. There is plenty of evidence to show that it makes a very effective anti-inflammatory agent.

2. No Need To Worry About Tripping A Drug Test

Any athlete above the little league level is going to be regularly tested for drugs. Because of the problems that have resulted from the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs, this practice is probably not going away anytime soon. Some would argue that the practice is unduly invasive, and we would agree, but we aren't the ones who make those decisions.

There have sometimes been problems for athletes when their medications were mistaken for illegal drugs. For instance, opioid pain medications could easily be mistaken for illegal opiates, and cannabinoid medications have caused similar problems in the past. However, there is good news for athletes that are interested in CBD: The World Anti-Doping Agency (which regulates these things for most sports) has recently removed CBD from its list of prohibited substances.

That being said, there is one little problem here. Many CBD products contain trace amounts of other cannabinoids, and those can be mistaken for Marijuana on a drug test. Thus, we would recommend that athletes use CBD isolate and others that are completely pure. You would, of course, need to avoid the "full-spectrum" and "broad-spectrum" extracts.

3. CBD Is Equally Useful In Topical Form

In many cases, sports injuries are localized in a certain area. Hamstrings, glutes, and shoulder muscles are all frequent victims (although that kind of thing will vary by sport, of course). That's when you need a topical medicine, meaning one that is meant to be applied externally. Creams and lotions are two common examples of external medicines like this. Because of the fact that CBD can be readily absorbed by the skin, it works just as well in topical medications as it does in oral ones.

This provides athletes with a more targeted way to address their injuries. There are even CBD-based sprays that can be quickly applied to any afflicted area. Of course, all of these topical products should be rubbed into the area after application. Otherwise, your skin may not absorb enough CBD to get the job done. Some people report that this kind of treatment also leaves their muscles feeling more flexible.

4. CBD Is A Non-Narcotic Pain Reliever

In addition to its anti-inflammatory benefits, CBD also serves as a mild and non-narcotic pain reliever. As we mentioned earlier, opioid medications can easily cause you to fail a drug test. More importantly, they can expose you to the risk of addiction, which is far worse than most injuries. CBD may not be quite as strong of a pain reliever, but it comes with none of that baggage. 

There are many times when an athlete needs relief from minor aches and pains, particularly in the muscles. That's when CBD, especially the ones from stirlingcbdoil.com can be just enough to deal with the problem. Again, we wouldn't recommend that you chew on a CBD gummy when you have a broken leg, but it is good for mild pain. It works by blocking some of the receptor cells in your brain that cause you to feel pain.

5. CBD Makes A Good Workout Supplement Ingredient

Because it has a tendency to reduce pain, inflammation, and fatigue, it makes sense that some people are beginning to incorporate CBD into workout supplements. In particular, it seems to go well with whey protein, which is probably the most popular protein supplement on the market. We have also seen hempseed protein being incorporated into some fitness products, which helps in the creation of a good amino acid blend.

Conclusion

There are probably other reasons for which athletes might consider the use of CBD, but these seem to be the top five. All in all, the soothing nature of the plant is what gives it a lot of potential for sports medicine. It can do some of the same jobs that traditional medicines do, but with fewer side effects and problems. While the facts here are true to the best of our knowledge, it is important that you consult your doctor before using CBD to treat any medical condition.

This is a guest blog entry.

10 Signs You May Be Addicted to Tramadol

In essence, Tramadol is a type of opiate analgesic, which is generally prescribed for treating moderate to severe pain. It works by altering the response of your brain and nervous system to tenderness. The dosage of the medication is somewhat mild. It, in turn, leads most people to believe that the drug is not addictive at all. 

However, that is entirely untrue. A lot of individuals who use Tramadol tend to become dependent on it, which gradually leads to addiction to the same. Due to this reason, you should only intake them as prescribed by your doctor. Otherwise, you might encounter the following issues. 

1.    Physical Dependence 

Physical dependence on Tramadol might develop over time with the increased amount of usage. When you become entirely dependent on it, then you might experience the below-mentioned symptom after stopping its intake.

• Panic
• Sweating
• Sneezing
• Nervousness
• Vomiting and nausea
• Tremor or uncontrollable shaking of the body
• Muscle spasm
• Runny nose 
  

If you’re asking yourself how long does Tramadol withdrawal last, then you will not find one  answer to it. The duration of the same will depend on your treatment procedure. So, be sure to get to it as promptly as possible. 

2.    Mental Disturbance 

Like any other form of addiction, Tramadol, too, can affect the way you think or do your work. For example, you might start missing your assignments due to the dependence on the medicine. You may also feel anxious if you are unable to take the drug at least a few times during the day.

Ignoring personal hygiene can also be an indication of addiction. According to a research module, almost 20,000 people in the USA visited a hospital to treat Tramadol addiction and, most of them were suffering from mental disturbance.  

3.    Loss of Appetite 

The issue of loss of appetite is somewhat synonymous with antidepressant withdrawal. However, it can also occur if you are addicted to Tramadol. In this aspect, you will lose the desire to eat anything, even when you are hungry. It might lead to gastritis and affect your overall BMI system negatively.

4.    Irritability

Along with anxiety, Tramadol addiction can also bring extreme irritability to your life. If you do not get to intake Tramadol, then you might feel extremely aggravated and start behaving rudely to everyone. You may also feel agitated even when you are not interacting with anyone. 

5.    Fast Breathing and Increased Heart Rate 

Due to distress and anxiety, your heart rate might increase a little bit as well. You will feel like pressure pushing you through your chest. In some cases, your breathing might get a little bit fast as well, even when you are not doing anything at all. 

6.    Delirium or Confusion 

A state of confusion or delirium is yet another issue that might occur among Tramadol addicts. You will experience the same right after taking a dose of the medication. It will ensnare your nervous system and senses, which, in turn, will obstruct your ability to think anything clearly.  

7.    Abdominal Cramps

While suffering from addiction, you can, sometimes, take a substantial amount of drugs without thinking twice. It can affect your digestive system massively and cause cramps or pain. Moreover, if you do not treat it right away, then it can also lead to diarrhea-related issues. 

8.    Trying to be Euphoric 

Do you usually take the drug for having peace of mind and sensing its euphoric effects? If your answer is "yes", then you might already be in the grasp of Tramadol addiction. As the medication is quite mild, it does not require an individual much time to develop tolerance towards it. Thus, many of them tend to use it for getting “high”. 

9.    Drug-seeking Attitude

Drug-seeking manners are one of the most common signs of any addiction. So, if you are, indeed, addicted to Tramadol, then you might exhibit the following behavior –

• Visiting more than one doctor to get the medication
• Giving an excuse for "loss of prescription"
• The reluctance of showing the previous medical records
• Tampering with drugs and medications

10.    Hallucination 

If you are using the Tramadol drug for a prolonged period of addiction, then you might also experience hallucinations. It is a dream-like state, which might make you see or feel something that does not even exist at all. Hallucinations are one of the rarest yet most reasonable symptoms of Tramadol addiction.
Final words

Unlike the other synthetic opioids, the Tramadol drug might seem to be somewhat harmless. But, in essence, it is not risk-free at all. So, if you are encountering any of the above-mentioned symptoms, then visiting your doctor can make a world of difference to you. Addiction of any sort, whether it is Tramadol or anything else, can affect your personal and professional life massively. So, make sure to treat it as soon as possible!

This is a blog post by Brian Jamerson.

Understanding “Personal Injury” as a Legal Term

Legally speaking, personal injury refers to harm that affects an individual’s body, mind, or emotions. These must be injured due to the carelessness, negligence, or wrongful behavior by another person. Since the legal definition of personal injury applies to a wide variety of incidents and circumstances, it is in your best interest to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine whether your case qualifies and what actions should be taken to correct it.

What are the most common types of personal injury claims?

The number of incidents that can lead to personal injuries is immeasurable. Vehicles of all sorts are involved in accidents whether it is a car wreck, a trucking or boating accident, or a plane crash. When it comes to premises liability cases, they may involve slip and falls or trip and falls, nuisance claims, inadequate security claims, and many others.

Medical malpractice is another important area of personal liability law. It also involves abuse and neglect in nursing homes and even animal bites. When it comes to damage to a person’s reputation or emotional harm, libel or slander are also considered personal injuries.

What would a personal injury claim need to prove?

After suffering an injury, your personal injury lawyer will help you file a claim. In it, you must prove that the defendant was negligent so that they can be held liable for what happened. In these cases, the plaintiff must prove that the behavior or actions taken by the defendant were negligent in order for the case to prevail.

Your lawyer will help structure your case in such a way as to prove that the defendant had a duty towards you under the circumstances and that duty was not carried out. In cases of car accidents, for example, drivers must drive in such a way as to avoid injuring those around them. In cases involving premise liability, the property owner or manager have a duty to keep their establishments reasonably safe for those who visit or shop there.

Once the point of breach of care has been proven, your lawyer will attempt to show that actions undertaken by the defendant constitute a breach of duty. To prove this, actions that anyone under these circumstances would have taken were not carried out. For example, if you visit a store where there is water on the floor and you slip and fall, it is expected that the owner or manager would either have cleaned it up as soon as they noticed it was there or would at least have posted signs and warnings in order for people to be aware of the possible danger. Finally, you must show that it was this situation that caused you harm.

What damages might you recover in a personal injury claim?

Damages may be economical, such as your medical bills or the wages you lost due to being unable to work because of your injuries. They may also be non-economical such as mental anguish or pain and suffering. Your lawyer will help you come up with the appropriate amount so that you may receive a monetary payment.

As you can see, this is a complicated matter that requires the right legal professional by your side. To get a better grasp on the subject, you should read more about personal injury law.

This is a guest blog entry.

5 Warning Signs Your Child Has Vision Problems

As a parent, you want the best for your child. You want them to fulfil their potential, lead a happy life, and be healthy. Regarding the latter point, it’s especially important for their eyes to be in tip-top condition – or at least for them to have the right pair of glasses. 

According to research by the American Optometric Association, almost 80% of all learning is done by children visually. Due to this, being able to see clearly is necessary for your child’s development and education. 

The bad news: kids are not going to be all that vocal if they are suffering from vision problems. They can identify when they’re hungry or even grumpy, but when words are looking a little blurry in their book? They might not realize this isn’t normal.

Fortunately, they don’t have to self-identify issues with their vision. Here are five warning signs to watch out for with your child’s eyes. 

1. Excessive eye rubbing

If you see your child constantly rubbing their eyes throughout the day, this could be due to fatigue or eye strain. According to the Visionary Eye Centre, who is a specialist in children’s eye exams, it can also be a red flag for several different vision-related conditions such as eye allergies. 

2. A lack of focus

When children are in class learning, their visual focus is constantly changing. Their eyes are constantly shifting from their textbooks to the board and from their notebooks to computer. If their ability to focus is compromised, they won’t be able to maintain the right level of concentration – and they will quickly fall behind in their school work as a result. 

This lack of focus can often be attributed to limited vision. After all, if they cannot see certain things crisp and clear, their mind is typically going to wander away from their work. If you notice deficient concentration and weak reading comprehension, this could be down to eye issues.

3. Too close to the screen

Have you noticed your child sitting right next to the television? Perhaps they squish their face up against their tablet computer? While this could be just them wanting to get a better view of what they’re watching, it may also be a hint they have nearsightedness. 

4. Constant headaches

Constant headaches may indeed be a clue for other health issues, but it could also be a sign for eye troubles. If they are complaining about regular headaches, for example, this could be down to your child overexerting their eyes in an attempt to see clearly. 

The same also applies if they are suffering from eye pain, although this is easier to identify admittedly. 

5. Misaligned eyes 

If your child is often tilting their head or covering one eye, this could be done to improve the clarity of what they’re looking at. It may also be done if they are trying to eliminate double vision. Either one is a hint their eyes are misaligned or have amblyopia.

This is a guest blog entry.

How to Choose an Orthodontist for Invisalign Melbourne?

More people than you can think, face improper teeth alignment, incorrect bite pattern, malocclusion, and other orthodontic issues. So, treatments for resolving these issues remain in high demand. Over the years, several treatment procedures have been developed to correct orthodontic problems.

But Invisalign aligners have proven to be an ideal option in a large number of cases. Many reasons can be attributed to this fact, for example, comfort, safety, and simplicity. Invisalign aligners refer to the clear aligners created under the brand name ‘Invisalign’. Clear aligners are also made under other brand names. 

For Invisalign Melbourne, i.e., for receiving the Invisalign aligner treatment in Melbourne, you should choose a reliable orthodontist. As orthodontics is a branch of dentistry dedicated to rectifying and preventing the misalignment in teeth, jaws, and bite patterns, Invisalign treatment is performed by orthodontists. As you might have guessed, orthodontists are the dental practitioners who specialize in orthodontics.

Though all orthodontists possess the required qualification, some might be better than others. You need to choose the best orthodontist for receiving any treatment. Now, the real question is that “how will you determine whether an orthodontist that you come across is better than the others?”. Worry not, as we have mentioned some criteria below using which you can evaluate and compare different orthodontists.

What is Invisalign Aligners Treatment?

Before we see how to find and select the orthodontist, let’s delve deeper into the Invisalign treatment. Whenever you visit a general dentist, a cosmetic dentist or an orthodontist for enhancing your smile, they will explain the meaning and benefits of this treatment procedure to you. But you should have a brief knowledge so that you can make an informed decision. 

Invisalign aligners are orthodontic devices made from medical grade multilayer aromatic thermoplastic polyurethane/copolyester. The material used is free from BPA, i.e., Bisphenol A, which creates harmful effects on the human body. These aligners are clear trays that don’t have any wires or brackets, unlike traditional braces.

One of the major reasons why Invisalign aligners have become more preferred and popular as compared to traditional braces is the absence of metal wires and brackets. These aligners provide a comfortable feel to the patient. Dental experts recommend wearing these aligners for at least twenty-two hours a day. You can remove them while eating and also when you want to clean them.

Which are the Criteria that You can Use?

Now, before you can shortlist a few orthodontists and choose one from them, you need to find about all the orthodontists that offer services in or around your region. You can use the Internet to search for dental clinics and dental hospitals that are located in and around your suburb, town, or city. You can even ask your relatives, friends, colleagues, and neighbors to provide you with some referrals. 

Once you come to know about all the orthodontic centers, you can note down the relevant details about them in a notepad or a computer file. These details include but are not limited to address, contact number, types of treatment performed, and cost.

Then, you should approach each center via telephone, email, or personal visit. You can ask about the treatment types, hygiene level, payment plans, and more while communicating with the concerned person. If you decide to visit personally, you can get a clear idea of the level of cleanliness that they maintain inside the center as well as the facilities that they have, for example, waiting room.
 

During your visit, you can meet the dental practitioner and discuss your dental issues. Based on the preliminary examination, the orthodontist can suggest the treatment options available to you. While talking to the dentist, you can assess their knowledge and experience. You can also check whether the dentist shows friendly and helpful behavior towards you. 

Moreover, you can find out whether the dental clinic or hospital is comfortable or not. You can even enquire about the flexibility provided in making the payment for the treatment. You should keep noting down all the points that you observe in different dental facilities. In the end, you can make a detailed comparison and choose the orthodontic center that seems better than others in the majority of aspects.

Wrapping Up

In the whole process of finding, shortlisting, and selecting the orthodontist, you can consider the online reputation of the dental facilities as well. The term ‘online reputation’ refers to the online reviews and ratings provided by the former patients of the dental clinics and hospitals. You can check reviews and ratings on review websites and social media platforms.

This is a guest blog entry.

The Importance Of Lifeguards In Community Pools

 Lifeguards play a crucial role in keeping swimmers and the community safe. Lifeguards can be employed in a variety of settings including but not limited to:

• Community swimming pools
• Cruise ships
• Water parks
• Beaches
• Rivers, lagoons, and other open bodies of water

These are trained individuals who are responsible for supervising the safety and rescue of swimmers and other participants. The expectation is that they come into their job every day assuming that nobody is a skilled swimmer and that even a skilled swimmer can be in distress. With that assumption in mind, they are hopefully less likely to take it for granted. Lifeguards are supposed to have their eyes on the water all the time. When they are scanning the pool area they are more likely to identify when a swimmer is in distress. They are looking for telltale signs of drowning, which are nothing like the way drownings are portrayed in television and movies. But when a lifeguard is hired by a company that manages a pool or other swimming area, and they do not have the right combination of knowledge and experience and competence, then adults and children are swimming at their own risk.

Expertise In Safety Matters

There is no way that an actor can truly reenact a drowning that is accurate. It would be illegal and it’s almost impossible for a person to act out an involuntary action. So, this means that the idea most people have about what drowning looks like is more of an actor’s interpretation, and very far removed from reality. In movies or television shows, a character might call out that they are drowning, or scream for help, or find some other way of calling attention to themselves. In reality, as a victim is drowning water is getting into their lungs. This prevents them from being able to get enough air to call out. In fact, to the untrained eye, a person who is drowning behaves almost identically to someone who is playing. 

This is one of the reasons why drownings can occur when an inexperienced and unqualified lifeguard is hired to watch swimmers because they will make the mistake of thinking someone is playing when they are in need of help.

Lifeguard Training

In order to become a lifeguard, an individual must go through extensive training that includes some classroom learning as well as hands-on learning with an instructor. Lifeguards must be at least 15 years old in most states and have passed a swimming skills test. The American Red Cross is one of the leading lifeguard training programs but there are many other reputable ones that result in the participant receiving certification at the end. At the end of the training, a lifeguard should be certified in:

• CPR
• First aid
• AED administration

Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney

Having a trained lifeguard is a crucial first step to ensuring for swimming safety, but if there are other dangerous circumstances that can lead to drowning, then the cruise ship, amusement park, hotel, or owner of the community pool where the drowning occurred may be liable. If there is overcrowding, a lack of supervision, or if the credentials of the lifeguard are not from a reputable training program, then you need to speak with drowning accident attorneys who can help.

This is a guest blog entry.