Safety precautions around pools will save lives, officials say

Ormond Beach Observer
News

Three layers for pool safety

Layer 1. Supervision: The first and most crucial layer of protection, “supervision” means someone is always actively watching when a child is in the pool. If they have to go inside, they should appoint someone else as the watcher.

Layer 2. Barriers: A child should never be able to enter the pool area unaccompanied by a guardian. Barriers, such as self-latching gates, physically block a child from the pool. The Consumer Product Safety has information (visit poolsafety.gov).

Layer 3. Emergency Preparedness: The moment a child stops breathing there is a small window of time in which resuscitation may occur. It’s important to learn CPR. In an emergency, it is critical to have a phone nearby and immediately call 911.

Source: Florida Dept. of Health in Volusia County. (Visit waterprooffl.com).

Representatives from various agencies came together at the Ormond Beach YMCA, 500 Sterthaus Drive, on June 6 for a press conference on water safety and to encourage residents to secure pools and take steps to protect children.

Pointing out that Florida leads the country in drowning deaths of children age 1 to 4, Teresa Rand, YMCA CEO and president, said the officials are seeking to prevent drowning and near-drowning accidents in Volusia County. Stressing the importance of learning to swim, she said the YMCA has been teaching kids to swim since 1907.

Steve Parris, Safe Kids coordinator, Halifax Health Healthy Communities, said most drownings occur in home swimming pools. Statistics show, he said, that African-American and Hispanic children are at a much higher risk of drowning, and many do not know how to swim.

He said Safe Kids offers scholarships for swimming lessons.

Eric Maday, environmental specialist for the Florida Dept. of Health in Volusia County, stressed the three layers of protection, supervision, barriers and emergency preparedness (see box.)

“These three layers will prevent the vast majority of child drownings,” Maday said.

An important factor in child drownings, he said, is that a child who falls into the pool will usually go straight to the bottom and not make any noise that would alert someone.

Shown are Steve Parris, Halifax Health; Eric Maday, Florida Dept. of Health; Teresa Rand, YMCA president and CEO; Mark Swanson, director of Beach Services; and Deputy Chief Ray Manchester, Beach Patrol.

Mark Swanson, director of beach services, said the county has the largest “pool,” 47 miles of beach. His number one recommendation is to swim in front of a lifeguard.

Ray Manchester, deputy chief, Beach Patrol, said ocean swimmers should always stay in waist deep water, to prevent being carried out by a strong current. He also stressed the importance of being near a lifeguard.

“The lifeguard will let you know you’re in trouble before you know you’re in trouble,” he said.