Letters to the Editor

Staying safe on the water

Pools, lakes, ponds and beaches mean summer fun and cool relief from our hot weather. But water can be dangerous for kids if proper precautions aren't taken.

Nearly 1,000 kids die each year by drowning. The good news is there are ways to keep your kids safe in the water. Below are safety tips from KidsHealth.org, the largest and most-visited site on the Web providing doctor-approved health information about children.

It's a good idea to learn to swim, and all kids older than 4 should take lessons. Don't assume that a child who knows how to swim isn't at risk for drowning. It's important to supervise kids while they're in the water, no matter what their swimming skill level. Also, children should never swim alone.

Invest in proper-fitting, Coast Guard-approved flotation devices (life vests) and use them whenever a child is near water. Check weight and size recommendations on the label, then have your child try it on to make sure it fits securely.

Make sure your kids understand that swimming in a pool is different from swimming in a lake or the ocean — there are different hazards for each. Here are tips specific to lakes, ponds and beaches:

At the lake or pond

-No swimming without adult supervision.

-Beware of hidden jagged rocks, broken glass or trash.

-Wear foot protection; even in the water (water shoes).

-Watch out for weeds and grass that could entangle a leg or an arm.

-Boating accidents are usually related to alcohol. When your family is boating, assign a designated driver.

At the beach

-Teach kids to always swim when and where a lifeguard is on duty. They shouldn't swim close to piers or pilings because sudden water movements may cause collisions.

-The beach has special dangers such as currents and tides. Check with the lifeguard when you arrive to find out about the water conditions.

-Don't allow kids to swim in large waves or undertows, and tell them never to stand with their back to the water because a sudden wave can easily knock a child over.

-Teach kids that if they're caught in a rip current or undertow, swim parallel to the shore or tread water and call for a lifeguard's help.

-The stings of jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars can be painful; tell kids to avoid them in the water and alert an adult or lifeguard immediately if they're stung.

-Whether at the lake or the beach, teach your child to get out of the water during bad weather, especially lightning.

Following these tips will help keep your family safe all summer long. For more information on water safety and other summer tips, visit www.KidsHealth.org.

— Freddie Guyer, M.D.

Division of Hospitalists Service, Nemours Children's Clinic, Jacksonville

Understanding regulatory changes to your account

Technology has yielded many ways for consumers to make purchases, exchange money and manage financial accounts. Debit cards, automatic payments, ATMs and mobile phones are just a few examples of ways to conduct banking today. In light of these electronic options, it also may be easier to become overdrawn — and your options for dealing with overdrafts are changing.

In November 2009, the Federal Reserve amended Regulation E — the Electronic Fund Transfer Act — which changes the way banks extend overdraft coverage for ATM transactions and debit card purchases. In the past, it was a standard practice for banks to automatically extend overdraft coverage to customers on ATM transactions and everyday debit card purchases when their account was overdrawn.

The amendment to Regulation E mandates that, after July 1 for new accounts and Aug. 15, 2010 for existing accounts, banks can no longer apply their standard overdraft practices unless the customer has specifically opted into the bank's overdraft service, including its terms, conditions and fees.

Overdraft: Standard service vs. protection

It's important to keep in mind that Regulation E addresses a bank's standard overdraft service, which is different from overdraft protection. At many financial institutions, overdraft service is provided as a courtesy to eligible customers. It's used to cover transactions when an account doesn't have sufficient funds at the time of the purchase. If used, overdraft fees may be applied.

Overdraft protection, on the other hand, allows a customer to link a checking account to a credit card, savings account or line of credit. Funds are moved automatically from the linked account to cover transactions and help the customer avoid an overdraft situation. If you have overdraft protection on your account, nothing will change as a result of Regulation E or your standard overdraft decision.

What does this mean?

This new rule gives you a choice whether or not to continue with standard overdraft service. Consumers who do not record their decision on or before Aug. 15 will be automatically opted out of the standard service.

What else can you do?

Consumers have more tools than ever to proactively manage accounts. Take time to understand your bank's policies on overdraft services. For more information on Regulation E, visit www.53.com.

—David M. Webb, Jr., senior vice president and community relations executive of Fifth Third Bank (Central Florida)