Pool and water safety:
Everyone wants to have fun and frolic in a refreshing pool this summer, yet we all need to be very careful around pools as drownings can be prevented.
As a pediatric ICU nurse, Nurse Barbara Dehn has seen the tragic consequences.
- If you have children who are not water safe, you need a locked fence that's at least 4 ½ feet high. Keep chairs and other objects away from the fence so curious children don't climb over. Be sure the latch is child proof.
- Never swim alone. Always have at least one other responsible person outside in or out of the pool. Too many people have hit their heads, slipped or had a seizure and drowned. For people with seizure disorders, this is particularly important.
- If you're having a pool party, designate one person as the Lifeguard. Their job is to scan and count heads often. Too often a person will drown in at a party, because everyone thought that "someone else" was watching the kids. So pick a designated lifeguard, who isn't drinking and is watching the pool.
- Never leave children near water unattended. Children can easily drown in as little as 6 inches of water.
- You don't have to get in the water to save a life! Life savers come in all shapes and sizes, and some you might not expect: You can use a plastic noodle or any floating toy to help someone get safely to the edge of a pool and hang on.
- If you're in a pool with lots of people making lots of noise and you need help, the best thing to yell is "LIFEGUARD"
- If you do have to rescue someone, approach the distressed swimmer from behind and pull them to the side. A panicked swimmer may put the rescuer at risk by trying to hold on to them.
- In the movies, people pulled from the water are put on their back and they magically come to life! Don't do it. If you pull someone from the water, put them on their side so they don't choke on any coughed up water.
