There’s been an uptick in service calls relating to near drownings, according to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.
To stay safe near water and reduce potential drowning deaths, the Sheriff’s Office offers these suggestions:
- Make sure children are supervised at all times while around water. A child can drown within seconds.
- Know your limitations in the water and don’t take risks.
- Do not swim alone.
- When boating, be sure there is a life jacket for each person on board and be sure the jackets can be accessed quickly and easily.
- Swim sober.
- Learn first aid and CPR.
- Know who to call in an emergency, and be sure you know the address where you are, so you can tell responders.
- Teach children water safety and swimming skills as early as possible.
- Keep access points to pools or other bodies of water secure and locked when not in use.
- Don’t use floatation devices as a substitute for supervision.
- Designate a “water watcher” at all times when people are in the water.
- Learn CPR, in case of emergencies.
- Never assume you’ll hear when a child is in distress or drowning. Drowning is a silent death.
Published July 1, 2020
