Practice water safety to prevent accidents

Drowning is the third largest killer of children ages 1-7 in Maryland. The Columbia Association, the Howard County Health Department and Safe Kids Worldwide urge the public to prevent downing injuries or deaths.

Here are some tips to eliminate potential hazards.

• Empty wading pools after each use. Store upside down and out of reach of children.
  
• Children should not be left alone in bath tubs, wading pools or any other body of water, despite presumed ability.
  
• Remove toys from the pool after use to eliminate temptation for children to enter the pool alone.
  
• Remember, children can drown in as little as 1 inch of water!

Also, teach your children water safety.

• Pin up long hair when in water.
  
• Keep and telephone and emergency number by the pool.
  
• Always use U.S. Coast Guard-approved personal safety devices in natural bodies of water or when participating in water sports.
  
• Never swim alone or unsupervised. Select swim sites with a lifeguard when possible.

These tips will help you keep pools and drains safe.

• Install isolation fencing at least 5 feet high equipped with self-latching gates around home pools.
• Replace flat drain covers with domed ones.
• Know where the manual cut-off switch for the pump is in case of emergency.
• Teach children never to go near a pool drain.

To plan ahead, follow these preparations.

• Enroll children ages 4 and older in swim lessons.
  
• Kids over the age of 13 should learn infant and child CPR.
• Know local weather conditions and forecast before swimming or boating.
• Watch for dangerous waves and signs of rip currents (water that is discolored, unusually choppy or filled with debris).
  

Back to top