As the weather heats up, chances are you will be headed to the beach or the pool. Drowning is the second leading killer of children ages 14 and under and the Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service urges you to follow these important tips to ensure safety around the water:
- Never leave children unattended around any body of water (bathtubs, pools, ornamental backyard ponds, etc.).
- Small children don't think of water as a danger and, by nature, are very curious. Being left alone in or around water without supervision can be fatal. Do not leave water or any other solutions unattended in buckets or other containers - a child can drown in as little as two inches of water.
- Learn to swim. But remember - even good swimmers can drown.
- Swimming lessons are no substitute for supervision of children and never swim alone.
- Learn CPR.
- Valuable lifesaving seconds are lost by having to wait for Emergency Medical Services to respond and administer CPR. Four to six minutes without oxygen can cause irreversible brain damage or death.
- Pay attention to local weather conditions and forecasts.
- Stop swimming at the first indication of bad weather.
- Watch out for the "dangerous too's"
- ...too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much strenuous activity.
- Always have a phone
- Keep a phone (cell or cordless) by the pool or nearby when engaged in recreational water activities so that you can call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
- Know where your children are at all times.
- Never leave a child unattended in the water or pool area. Don't be distracted by phone calls, chores or conversations. If you leave the pool area, take the child with you.
- Don't rely on substitutes.
- The use of floatation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air, or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.
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