Summer Water Safety Tips

Mecklenburg County residents are trying to beat the heat this summer by staying cool and taking a dip in their community pool, backyard or heading out to one of our local lakes. Medic would like to remind the community to play it safe over the summer when venturing out to community pools and lakes. Stay alert and protect yourself from dangerous situations, but especially keep a close eye on children near the water. Drowning is one of the leading causes of toddler deaths.

Below are some helpful tips on how to keep you and your family safe around the water this summer:

Residential Pools and/or Spas

• Fence in your pool or spa (at least 4 feet high)
• Install alarms on doors leading to the pool/spa area
• Block pool/spa access
• Remove stairs near pool/spa area
• Make sure covers are secured near the pool/spa area
• Teach children how to swim - knowing how to swim does not prevent drowning occurrences
• Remove toys for pool/spa
• Stay alert and keep eyes peeled - NEVER leave children unsupervised in or near the pool/spa area

Natural Bodies of Water

• NEVER swin alone
• Wear a life jacket (children’s floaties are not a substitute)
• Always jump in FEET FIRST (check water depth)

Toilets/Bathtubs/Buckets

• Supervise bath time
• Shut toilet lids
• Store buckets safely after use

One of the most important pieces of all around safety, especially involving water, is learning Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation or CPR. Knowing how to perform CPR in the event of an emergency is imperative to a person’s survival. Acting quickly by calling 911 and starting CPR will help save a person’s life, especially in a drowning situation.

To learn more about CPR or to sign up your group for a CPR class (minimum of people needed), please visit www.medic911.com and click on Community Education.

**Water Safety Information provided by the Mayo Clinic - Children’s Water Safety**