MCFRS Gives Pool Safety Tips For The Summer

MCFRSOn the first official day of summer, Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Services have released some tips for being safe at the pool.

Drowning is the second leading killer of children under the age of 14.

Already this year, MCFRS has responded to a near drowning at a local pool. In that case, lifeguards rescued and performed CPR on a 12-year-old boy.

For more safety tips, head to the MCFRS website.

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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