Archives Index  /Health Dept. Joins Daytona Beach To Promote Pool Safety (posted: 04/07/11)

Source: Volusia County Health Department
Contact: Stefany Strong, Public Information Officer

DAYTONA BEACH - The Volusia County Health Department joins the City of Daytona Beach in encouraging community partners to come together in raising awareness about drowning prevention measures aimed at keeping children safe in the water this swimming season and throughout the year.

Florida leads the nation in drownings of children under the age of 5. There have been four reported child drownings and a number of near drownings in Volusia County in 2011.

“Drowning is a leading, but preventable, cause of death and injury among children under 5,” said Dr. Bonnie J. Sorensen, director of the Volusia County Health Department. “It is important to add layers of protection in and around the water to save lives. You can never know which safety measure will save a life, until it does.”

This partnership supports efforts such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely-Simple Steps Save Lives campaign – a national public education effort to reduce child drownings, near-drownings and entrapments in swimming pools and spa – and the Department of Health’s pool safety campaign called Water Proof Florida.

All city, county and state offices and community groups and faith-based organizations are encouraged to raise awareness by posting web links www.poolsafely.gov and www.waterproofFL.com, using pool safety tips in newsletters and e-mail blasts, and making pool safety brochures and other print materials available to the public.

Residents are encouraged to follow these water safety measures:

• Install barriers that completely surround the pool with self-closing, self-latching gates.
• Have a shepherd’s hook and/or lifesaver near the pool.
• Have compliant drain covers to prevent swimmers from being caught in the drains.
• Watch children at the pool.
• Learn and practice water safety skills.
• Know how to swim and perform CPR.
• Have alarms and sensors to alert when someone is by the pool.
• Be alert.