Above / To prevent accidental drowning or injury, always buddy up when going swimming and be sure an adult is near. Be mindful of water safety tips that can be applied when swimming at Centennial Beach, in subdivision and backyard in-ground or above-the-ground pools or inflatables, and at lakes and seashores. Learn from lifeguards. Be safe. (PN File Photo)
Health Department reminds residents about pool safety this summer
June 28, 2019 / DUPAGE COUNTY— A June 2019 report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) highlights the need to continue to fight drowning, which remains the leading cause of accidental death among children ages 1-4. Non-fatal drowning injuries have also increased. From 2016-2018, 73 percent of childhood submersion injuries treated at emergency departments involved children below age 5. In 2018, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, six Illinois children died due to accidental drowning.
In the spring of 2019, the DuPage County Health Department (DCHD) became a CPSC Pool Safely campaign partner with the goal of reducing child drownings and entrapments in pools and spas.
Follow pool safety tips to keep children safe around the water
- Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all pools and spas.
- Designate a Water Watcher to supervise children at all times around the water. This person should not be distracted by smartphones, reading materials or conversation.
- Learn how to swim and teach your child to swim. (Editor’s Note: Life skill of swimming lessons at the Y)
- Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.
- Avoid entrapment by teaching children to stay away from pool drains and pipes. Keep long hair, bathing suit straps and draw strings away from drains.
- Ensure that any pool or spa/hot tub that you use has drain covers that meet federal safety standards. If you’re not sure, ask your pool service provider for details.
Before going to the pool, take the Pool Safely Pledge then pass it on to three friends or loved ones. Together, we can promote safety in and around the water in DuPage County.
To learn more about DCHD’s Pool Safely Northern Illinois Program, call (630) 221-7198.
Report submitted by Don Bolger reinforces an earlier report with reminders about pool and water safety important to share with all ages every day. Bolger is Public Information Officer for DuPage County Health Department.
Naperville Professional Firefighters want to ‘Make Safe Happen’
Original Post, May 28, 2019 / According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), drowning is the number-one cause of accidental death in children under the age of four.
“Whether it’s in a tub or a pool, water of any depth can be dangerous for kids,” said Tom Kriss, a firefighter with the Naperville Professional Firefighters Local 4302.
Naperville firefighters advise that by taking proper precautions, accidental drowning can be prevented.
Make Safe Happen
Naperville Professional Firefighters have joined Nationwide’s “Make Safe Happen” campaign to create greater awareness of water safety and protect children from accidental drowning. This Water Safety campaign offers safety tips and other resources, including bathtub safety, how to identify “dry drowning” (very rare occurrence) and how to keep your swim area safe.
“It’s also important to know how these water deaths in children are happening,” added Kriss. “This is critical information that all caretakers of young children should know.”
Important safety tips help Make Safe Happen
• Always be in arm’s distance from your child
• Choose life jackets over water wings
• Stay clear of drains
• Install a fence around your home pool
• Learn CPR and first aid
• Always have a phone with you to call for help
“Kids love to make a splash, but they often don’t know their limits,” said Kriss. “That’s why we need to actively watch them when they’re in and around water.”
For more information about water safety, visit www.makesafehappen.com.
For potentially life-threatening situations, call 9-1-1 so firefighters and paramedics can respond quickly when lives are in danger.
Report submitted by Tom Kriss for the Naperville Professional Firefighters.
Editor’s Note / Considering severe weather, thunderstorms and flash flooding in the summertime, it’s a good time to talk to the youngsters in your life about water safety. In addition to the tips above, remind youngsters that standing water in retention basins or open fields is not a play area for fishing, wading or swimming. Standing water becomes stagnant with health risks and can be a breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and parasites. Plus, mosquitoes are known to breed in shallow pools less than the size of a teaspoon.
Be safe, give your child the life skill of swimming lessons at the Y with more tips and enjoy the great outdoors by simply remembering a little sage advice.
