Drowning Prevention Tips

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At Fulton Homes, we take water safety very seriously. You may have read about our Fence Patrol Initiative or about our 2 Seconds is Too Long program. In an effort to educate more people about how to prevent drowning and water related accidents, please read on for some tips on drowning prevention.

SUPERVISION

  • Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near any body of water, even for a second.
  • Don’t rely solely on barriers, such as fences or walls. There is no substitute for constant supervision.
  • Keep toys, tricycles, and other children’s playthings out of the water and away from the pool or spa.
  • Don’t consider your children to be “drown-proof” because you enrolled them in swimming or “water-proofing” classes.
  • Don’t relay on inflatable devices to keep your child afloat. These are not substitutes for adult supervision.

BARRIERS

  • Make sure your pool or spa has a fence, wall, or safety cover that guards against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.
  • Make sure doors leading to the pool or spa area are self-closing and self-latching, or are equipped with exit alarms and are never propped open.
  • Gates should have self-closing, self-latching mechanisms. Latches should be out of reach of young children and kept in proper working order.
  • Make sure the safety cover is always closed when pool or spa is not in use.
  • Always drain standing (surface) water from the pool cover. Remember that even a few inches of water can be hazardous, especially to young children.

EMERGENCY PROCEDURES

  • Learn how to administer lifesaving techniques to children, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
  • Install a phone, or keep a cordless phone, in the pool or spa area.
  • Post the emergency medical services phone number (i.e. 911) in an easy-to-see place near the pool or spa, and make sure that everyone learns the number(s).

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A CHILD IN TROUBLE IN A POOL

  1. Yell for help and get the child out of the pool.
  2. Call 911 immediately for medical assistance.
  3. Begin CPR, if you’re trained.
  4. If you’re not trained in CPR, follow telephone instructions from the Fire Department until the arrive to help you.

HOW TO PREVENT DROWNING

  1. Make sure pools are secured.
  2. Get CPR Certified! Log on to the Red Cross Website or call (602)336-6490.
  3. Keep items that can be used for climbing (tables, chairs, ladders) away from fences.
  4. Don’t allow children to play in pool areas. Keep toys out of the area.
  5. Mount floatation devices designed for lifesaving near the pool. Many flotation toys are thought to be lifesavers. They are not, they’re only toys and should be used only as toys.
  6. Post the 911 emergency phone number on your phones. Have a phone near the pool area. Don’t leave children unattended while talking on the phone.
  7. Never allow children to be alone near a pool. Always make sure an adult is present.