The Pasco County Department of Health is reminding residents the potential dangers of water activities during the Fourth of July holiday weekend, and is suggesting tips to keep people safe.
“When you make plans for this patriotic holiday, be sure to discuss water safety,” said county health officer Mike Napier, in a release. “Water activities are a great way to stay active, but they can come with hazards. Planning ahead and taking precautions can help keep our families safe.”
Napier says the first thing families should do is designate a water watcher when children are around water.
• Assign an adult to watch the children at all times.
• If the assigned adult needs to leave, assign the responsibility of watching the children to another adult.
• Never leave children alone in or near water, even for a moment.
• Use barriers to block children from the water area like four-sided fencing that’s at least 5 feet high, self-closing and self-latching gates, doors and window alarms.
• Be prepared by learning CPR, keeping rescue equipment and a phony in the pool or water area.
Additional steps when around open water include:
• Set specific swimming rules for each individual or group based on swimming ability. For example, those who cannot swim 200 yard on the water’s surface should wear a properly fitted life jacket.
• Read and follow all rules and posted signs.
• Never swim alone.
• Designate a water watcher.
• Swim only in designated areas.
• Never combine alcohol and water recreation.
• Take frequent rest breaks on land.
To precent recreational water illnesses, which can result from swallowing or being exposed to contaminated water:
• Don’t swim when you have diarrhea.
• Don’t swallow the water you swim in.
• Parents of young children should take children on bathroom breaks every 60 minutes. Check diapers every 30 to 60 minutes.
• Avoid water-related activities in warm freshwaters, hot springs and around power plants. Particularly during periods of high water temperature and low water levels.
• Hold your nose shut or use nose clips when you swim in bodies of warm freshwater, such as lakes, rivers and hot springs.
• Avoid digging in or stirring up the sediment in shallow, warm freshwater.
For more information on water safety and the water watcher program, click here.
