Crime & Safety
Forsyth County Fire Department Offers Water Safety Tips
To kick off May as National Water Safety Month, the department is providing safety tips to Forsyth County residents.
May is National Water Safety Month and, with temperatures on the rise and summertime right around the corner, the Forsyth County Fire Department wants residents to think about how they can keep themselves and their loved ones safe in and around the water.
Drowning can occur in many locations and can happen in a myriad of places and locations such as a bucket left for a small child to get into, a bathtub where an infant or toddler is left alone for just a moment or an unlocked toilet for an infant or toddler to fall into.
The Forsyth County Fire Department has provided the following safety tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Drowning Prevention Alliance to help prevent drowning:
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- Never swim alone – use the buddy system. Neither adults nor children should swim alone regardless of age or skill level. If a child is missing or unaccounted for, always check the water first.
- Always know where children are. Never leave a child unattended in or near water.
- Designate a responsible adult to watch young children while in the bath and all children swimming or playing in or around water. An adult should always be within reach when infants and toddlers are in and around water.
- Consider using a certified lifeguard for residential gatherings that include swimming activities.
- Always be aware of potential dangers in all environments, including unfamiliar surroundings such as while on vacation or at community pools.
- Never use a floatation device as a substitute for a supervisor or as a toy.
- Always have some type of rescue equipment, such as a life-saving ring or shepherd’s hook, at poolside.
- Use barrier devices such as gates, fences, pool covers and alarms.
- Teach yourself and children how to swim.
- Learn CPR.
- Always have a phone nearby in case of an emergency.
- Dial 911 in the event of an emergency.
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