Make changes now, before a drowning happens. It could happen in your neighborhood or at your next gathering. Please don’t wait. Read the following information. It could change your life.

FACTS

• Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional or accidental injury-related death to children ages 1-4 years old in Riverside County.
• 86% of all drowning and near-drowning incidents occur in backyard pools.
• There are over one million backyard pools in California without safety features because they were built before the Swimming Pool Safety Act of 1998. One could be in your neighborhood.
• Drowning is a quiet event. There is no splashing, no screaming, and no noise at all.
• A submerged child can lose consciousness in less than two minutes – the time it takes to answer a phone – and sustain permanent brain damage in only 4 to 6 minutes.
• Shimmering and sparkling, water is a magnet for toddlers and young children.
• Children under the age of five have no fear of water and no concept of death. Water is associated with play.
• Remember, it takes very little water for a child to drown. Less than one inch of water is all it takes to cover the mouth and nose of a toddler.

LAYERS OF PROTECTION FOR POOLS

• FENCING: Enclose your pool with four-sided, non-climbable fencing at least 5 feet high. Isolation fencing around a pool or spa is the best protection. If possible, do not use your house as one of the four sides.
• FENCE GATES: All gates to the pool or spa should be self-closing and self-latching.
• DOOR & WINDOW ALARMS: All windows and doors that lead to the pool area should have alarms that alert adults when they are opened.
• POOL COVERS: If a pool cover is used, make sure it has been approved as a safety device.

PREVENTION TIPS

• SUPERVISE! Never leave a child alone near a pool or spa, bathtub, pond, toilet, bucket of liquid, or any standing water.
• Assign an adult Water Watcher to keep their eyes on the water at all times.
• Do not allow children to play near the pool or spa.
• Keep toilets lids down. Install safety latches on the toilet lids to prevent toddlers from opening and playing in the toilet.
• Empty wading pools immediately after use and store upside-down.
• Bath rings are only bathing aids, not personal floatation devices.
• Never rely on devices or swimming lessons to protect children.
• American Academy of Pediatrics advises against swim lessons until the 4th birthday.
• Never drink alcoholic beverages before or during swimming or supervising children.

BE PREPARED

• Learn CPR & First Aid
• Know your neighborhood and the homes your child visits. Is there a pool? Is it properly protected? If the children will be swimming, who will be supervising them?
• Learn how to swim and learn proper rescue techniques.
• Keep rescue equipment at near the pool. Do NOT use air-filled swimming aids (such as water rings) in place of life preservers. These devices can give parents and children a false sense of security, which may increase the risk of drowning.
• Keep a portable telephone and emergency phone numbers nearby.

IF A WATER EMERGENCY OCCURS

• Pull the child from the water and place on his or her back
• Check for breathing; clear mouth and nose of any obstructions
• Instruct another adult to call for emergency help
• Begin rescue breathing or CPR as needed until the child is revived or help arrives.