Officials urge: Be vigilant around the water
With temps heating up around Southwest Florida, bodies of water, from beachside to poolside, will see lots of activity.
With more people in the water comes a greater chance of accidental drownings and other water-related incidents.
May serves as National Water Safety Month, with a history of highlighting water awareness and swim safety starting in June 2003, when the World Waterpark Association launched its National Water Safety Week.
The coalition is made up of organizations such as the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance, American Red Cross, National Drowning Prevention Alliance, National Recreation and Park Association, and World Waterpark Association.
While also working throughout Southwest Florida to keep pools clean and running smoothly, Pool Scouts of Cape Coral offers life-saving tips when it comes to drowning prevention and water safety.
Owner Kate Richard advised parents to have their children wear a bright-colored or neon bathing suit — one without blue or green colors to provide a contrast to the color of waster.
“You definitely want a brighter color like pinks, oranges, red,” she said. “It allows you to see a child that could potentially be in crisis a lot quicker to avoid an accidental drowning. You’re able to react faster.”
Having eyes on the pool at all times is also paramount to water safety.
A designated “water watcher” can make all the difference in the world when it comes to keeping children safe poolside.
“A water watcher is someone whose only job is to be watching the water,” Richard said. “That’s because phones, conversations, and quick distractions are often all it takes for accidents to happen. Active supervision is the No. 1 safety tool. Have conversations with other parents that are there to put them on assignment in a way. What ends up happening is that everyone assumes somebody else is watching without that conversation taking place.”
According to the NDPA, there are more than 4,500 drowning deaths each year in the United States, adding drowning is fast, silent, and can happen in as little as 20 to 60 seconds. Even a good swimmer can drown.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, drowning is the single leading cause of death for children ages 1-4. No other single cause of death kills more toddlers and young children than drowning.
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death in children ages 5-14 following motor vehicle crashes.
Richard said Pool Scouts recommends that every pool owner learn CPR.
“In many emergencies, bystanders are the first responders before EMS arrives,” she said. “Having rescue equipment nearby and knowing how to react quickly can save lives.”
Richard added that having several layers of protection for those that have a pool and young children is critically important.
“That includes fencing, self-latching gates, alarms, and safety covers,” she said. “These are obviously replacements for supervision, but they do create extra time in an emergency. It delays the child from being able to access the pool as easily.”
Cape Coral being home to more than 400 miles of canals, it’s not just pool water parents need to be vigilant of.
“With the high number of canals in the area, that does increase the risk of accidental drowning,” Richard said. “It’s important for parents to ensure that even their sliding glass doors have latches that are out of reach for small children. Some people also install fencing along the end of their yard to prevent children from gaining access to the canals without supervision.”
NDPA officials state that drowning doesn’t always result in death, it can cause hypoxic brain injury with moderate to severe impacts on quality of life and health outcomes.
The NDPA offers “5 layers of protection” to help prevent drownings:
• Barriers and Alarms: It’s important to use four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates, pool safety covers, and alarm systems, to help prevent children and unauthorized adults from accessing water unsupervised.
• Supervision: Stay vigilant and aware of your surroundings with close, constant, and capable adult supervision from a designated water watcher or lifeguard anytime children are in or around water.
• Water Competency: Every child and adult should be equipped with the skills to protect themselves in water by learning and enhancing their basic water safety skills to reduce the risk of drowning and aquatic-related injuries.
• Life Jackets: When used appropriately, life jackets protect you when you are not expecting to be in the water, especially around open water. Ensure your life jackets are tested & approved by the USCG
• Emergency Preparation: Knowing how to prepare for an emergency with CPR training with rescue breaths and basic water rescue skills can make the difference between life and death. Have a phone available and ready to call 911.
According to the Florida Department of Health, children ages 1-4 years old are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool than children ages 5-19 years old, who are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water.
To mark National Water Safety Month, Pool Scouts has partnered with the Hope Floats Foundation to donate more than 1,500 swim lessons for children living in poverty. Since 2021, Pool Scouts has raised more than $80,000 for Hope Floats. Throughout Water Safety Month, every Pool Scout franchisee will donate $1 per-service completed.
“That money goes to Hope Floats so they are able to provide swim lessons for children, especially those that might not be able to afford it,” Richard said. “We believe swim lessons are one of the best investments a parent can make. Even young children can begin learning basic water familiarity and self-rescue skills. It’s never too early to start.”
Richard added that even pool maintenance is part of water safety.
“You want to make sure you’re having clean, balanced water because that helps reduce bacteria, irritation, and visibility issues — which can be a problem even in pools,” she said. “If you don’t have clear water, it makes it more difficult to spot swimmers earlier if there’s an emergency.
“We want to create an environment where families can enjoy their pools with peace of mind, and water safety is a collection of small habits that all work together. A safe pool is a fun pool.”For more information on National Water Safety Month, visit nwsm.phta.org.
For more information on the Hope Floats Foundation, visit hopefloats.foundation.
To reach CJ HADDAD, please email cjhaddad@breezenewspapers.com