WASHINGTON — Hitting the pool this holiday weekend? Maybe you’re also firing up the grill. Have a great time, but think safety first.
A lot of neighborhood pools open up over Memorial Day weekend and local safety officials are reminding adults they have to be careful with their kids. Teresa Ann Crisman, community risk reduction outreach officer for the Prince George’s County Fire Department, said it’s not enough to put small children in the pool just wearing those arm floats.
“That’s not an approved flotation device,” Crisman said. “That’s just a tool that a parent can use to reassure a child.”
Some other important safety tips include:
- Teach your child how to swim.
- Have a phone nearby in the event you need to call 911.
- Have children swim in pairs — the “buddy system”
- If a child is missing, check the pool first.
- Learn CPR and how to use an automatic external defibrillator (AED).
If you’re cooking out remember grills must be at least 30 feet away from any multifamily apartment building and take a look at your grill to make sure it’s in good working order before you fire it up.
Some other important safety tips:
- Never use a grill indoors, which includes garages, overhangs and canopies
- If using a grill at your single family home, homeowners should use a 10-foot perimeter from anything combustible — including your house. Never place a grill up against your house, wood deck or fence.
- Do not allow children and pets to play near a grill. Set up a 10-foot safety zone around your grill.
- Only use approved ignition fluids. Never use gasoline to ignite a grill.
- Keep a fire extinguisher, garden hose or bucket of sand nearby to douse a grill fire that gets out of control.
