Safety Tips for Diving Boards and Water Slides

Diving injuries can result in quadriplegia, paralysis below the neck, to divers who hit the bottom or side of a swimming pool, according to CPSC.

Divers should observe the following precautions:

• Never dive into above-ground pools. They are too shallow.
• Don't dive from the side of an in-ground pool. Enter the water feet first.
• Dive only from the end of the diving board and not from the sides.
• Dive with your hands in front of you and always steer up immediately upon entering the water to avoid hitting the bottom or sides of the pool.
• Don't dive if you have been using alcohol or drugs because your reaction time may be too slow.
• Improper use of pool slides presents the same danger as improper diving techniques. Never slide down head first - slide down feet first only.

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