We are proud to partner with the YMCA to offer more great information on pool water safety.
The YMCA’s “Watchful Eyes Save Lives” campaign endeavors to keep kids and adults safe in the pool, and any body of water with their excellent water safety tips.
Read on below to learn how to stay safe.
6 Steps to Water Safety
1) Any depth of water is dangerous.
It’s important to understand that drowning can occur in both deep and shallow water – depth doesn’t matter. So whether you’re at the beach, local swimming pool, or in the bathtub, drowning is a risk.
You can drown in as little as 2 inches of water.
In fact, many children drown in bathtubs, buckets, and even toilets. It only takes two inches of water to present a drowning risk.
According to the CDC, in 10 percent of child drowning cases, an adult is watching and has no idea that the child is drowning – so knowing the signs is absolutely essential to eliminating drowning. So learn the signs of drowning. Understand that drowning is silent and quick – it can happen in a matter of minutes. Once you know what drowning looks like, you can help prevent it.
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2) Place barriers around water.
Unfortunately, tragedies can occur when children are left unsupervised. An astonishing number of children have fallen into bodies of water, including swimming pools and hot tubs, when left unsupervised for a matter of minutes.
Remember that drowning is quiet and quick. Within 2 minutes, a child can lose consciousness after being submerged in water. Within 6 minutes, they can suffer permanent brain damage.
To prevent tragedies like this from happening, set up a barrier around your pool and hot tub, and always supervise your children near bodies of water, including bathtubs and toilets.
Barriers prevent children from falling into swimming pools and hot tubs and drowning and give you peace of mind knowing that your child is safe.
3) Designate or be a water watcher!
Children are at high risk for drowning, along with men and people who have increased access to water. Sadly, 1 in 5 people who die from unintentional drowning is a child either 14 years old or younger. While most of these cases occur at the child’s home swimming pool, a third of them happen in swimming pools of relatives, friends, or neighbors.
Make sure you have someone supervising the pool, especially if there is not a lifeguard present. Ensure that the water watcher knows the signs of drowning and what to do in case someone is drowning.
4) Remember, drowning is quiet and quick.
Movies and TV often portray drowning as a loud, attention-grabbing event. However, this does not accurately reflect reality. In truth, drowning happens extremely quickly and is silent. According to the YMCA of Houston, this is how fast drowning can occur:
- 10 seconds: In the time you can cross a room to grab a towel, a child in a bathtub can be submerged.
- 2 minutes: In the time you answer your phone, a child can lose consciousness.
- 4-6 minutes: In the time it takes for you to sign for a package at the front door, a child submerged in a tub or pool can sustain permanent brain damage.
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5) Learn water rescue skills and CPR.
If you see someone drowning, you’ll need to know what to do next. This is why you should take water rescue and CPR classes. In the event of an emergency, having these skills can save a life.
Many places across the Houston area offer free or very low-cost CPR and safety classes. To see a list of ten places you can get CPR certified in Houston, click here.
6) Take formal swimming lessons.
Knowing how to swim and teaching your loved ones how to do so safely can really help to eliminate drowning. The Houston YMCA offers swimming lessons for kids and adults of all ages. These swimming lessons are designed to improve swimming skills, build confidence in the water, and teach personal water safety. All lessons are conducted under the supervision of a certified life guard trained in CPR, AED, First Aid, and Oxygen Administration.
Click here to learn more and sign up for swim lessons.
Get Your Pool Cleaned by the Experts at Manning Pool Service!
At Manning Pool Service, we care about you – and your pool. That’s why we go above and beyond to make sure your swimming pool is clean, working effectively, and safe for your friends and family to use. To get a quote on pool cleaning and maintenance services, contact us today at (713) 322-8304!
6 Steps to Water Safety – YMCA Houston | Manning Pool Service – Houston, TX