The City of Loma Linda Fire Department has joined a national campaign to raise awareness of Drowning Prevention and pool safety. The Fire Departments campaign is to insure that drowning and entrapment prevention become public priorities by raising awareness, promoting industry compliance, and improving safety at pool and spas.
Children Drown without a sound! Drowning continues to be the leading cause of accidental death among children age five and under. The majority of drowning’s and near-drowning’s occur in residential pools and in open water sites. Drowning usually occurs quickly and silently.
Drowning is 100% preventable, and the following action/steps can be taken to combat this needless tragedy:
Action #1: Protection. Use layers of barrier protection between children and water to warn and impede. Install alarm on doors and windows leading to the pool. Install self- closing and self- latching gates. Use pool safety covers and insure that they are completely closed when the pool in not in use. Never leave toys in or around the pool/spa.
Action #2: Supervision. Adults must communicate and establish responsibility for child supervision. Assign an adult “water watcher” to supervise the pool/ spa area, especially during social gatherings. Do not assume that someone else is watching a child. Never leave a child alone near a pool or spa, bathtub, toilet, water filled buckets, pond, or any standing water in which a child’s nose and mouth may be submerged. Communicate pool safety measures with all family members and babysitters.
Action #3: Preparation. Learn how to swim. Learn proper rescue techniques. Learn CPR. Mount rescue equipment by the pool such as “lifesaving ring” and “shepherds hook”. Many floatation type toys, like arm float and float rings are mistaken as life savers and can in fact be dangerous. They are only toys and should only be used as such. U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest should always be worn in the water. Keep a phone close by the pool/ spa.
For More Information, please visit the following links:
CDC Injury Center: Water-Related Injuries
CDC Feature Article: Drowning Risks in Natural Water Settings
CDC: Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) |