By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
Summer is upon us and temperatures are heating up. Many people are spending their time in pools to beat the heat. “Unfortunately, there is the dangerous side to summer and swimming pools reminds Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.”
Did you know More children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. For children ages 5–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes.
Drowning incidents are dramatically on the rise locally and nationally. Parents whose children have drowned say the day of the tragedy started out just like any other day. No matter how the drowning happened or where it happened — pool, spa, or any other body of water — one thing was the same, the seconds that claimed their child’s life slid by silently, without warning, it happens just like that and can never be brought back.
Drowning is preventable!
Children drown without a sound. Drowning is a quiet event. There is no splashing, no screaming, and no noise at all. What can you do to prevent drowning incidents?
Follow the ABC’s of water safety:
A = Adult Supervision. Assign an adult Water Watcher to keep their eyes on the water at ALL times. Never swim alone or leave the children in a pool at ANY time unattended!
B = Barriers such as fences, self-closing and self-latching gates, pool motion sensors, window and door alarms.
C = Classes. Parents and Caregivers should take CPR and First Aid, and swimming courses that are available for both children and adults.
Parents, no drinking while pool duty and put away that cell phone. Attention at all times on the children!
Visit: http://www.poolsafely.gov for more drowning prevention and safety tips.
Remember, when paddle boarding, ocean swimming, or surfing make sure you tell someone when you are leaving, when you are returning and your destination.
Contact your local fire dept. for more pool safety tips!
