Summer is officially upon us and the El Paso Fire Department would like to offer the public the following safety tips when utilizing a swimming pool this season.

Drowning is one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related deaths in the United States and is the second leading cause among children ages 1-14. The majority of drownings and non-fatal drownings occur in residential swimming pools and open water sites. Children can drown in as little as one inch of water and therefore they are at risk of drowning in wading pools, bathtubs, buckets, toilets, spas and hot tubs. Child drownings and non-fatal drownings can happen in a matter of seconds and typically occur when a child is left unattended or during a brief lapse in supervision.

Safety Tips

  • Never leave a child unattended near water in a pool; there is no substitute for adult supervision.
  • Designate a “water watcher” to maintain constant watch over the children in the pool during gatherings.
  • Door and windows should be armed to alert adults when opened. Doors should be self-
  • closing and self-latching so children won’t wander off.
  • Keep a phone poolside so that you don’t have to leave the pool to answer the phone and can call for help if needed.
  • Do not use flotation devices as substitutes for supervision.
  • If a child is missing, always check the pool first. Seconds count.
  • Remove toys from in and around the pool when not in use.
  • Do not consider children “drown proof” because they’ve had swimming lessons.
  • Don’t use floating chlorine dispensers that look like toys.
  • Store all chemicals away and out of the reach of children.

Find more information and a complete list for more summer safety tips.

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