Year-long season of drowning prevention kicks off this month

The month of May is traditionally celebrated much like a holiday across America as the beginning of the summer season. Many children begin summer break, families take their first dip in the backyard swimming pool and vacations long and short revolve around water.

Unfortunately the month of May has historically signaled the beginning of a season of drowning tragedies across the United States. Whether it's the backyard or community pool, a local lake, mountain river, beach or activity on the ocean, the danger of drowning is present whenever families spend time beside the water.

Las Vegas' first drowning casualty occurred April 13, when a 1-year-old boy was found in a backyard pool and later died at the hospital. According to the police, the child's mother lost track of her son for about five minutes. The backyard pool had a fence around it.

The National Drowning Prevention Alliance supports May as National Drowning Prevention Month, in a collaborative effort across the country with other organizations involved in water safety, drowning prevention, aquatic safety and recreational activities.

The main goal of the National Drowning Prevention Month campaign is to promote water safety, a central focus of the the alliance's mission. National Drowning Prevention Alliance recognizes and celebrates the vital role that swimming and aquatic-related activities play in the physical and mental health, as well as quality of life, of Americans.

LAYERS OF PROTECTION

Multiple strategies are needed to prevent drownings. Using "layers of protection" is the best way to enjoy the water safety. Each layer is used to complement the others, so that no single strategy or approach is used.

n Always know where children are. Never leave a child unattended in or near water in a pool, tub, lake, river, canal or ocean, even when lifeguards are present.

n Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. Water wings or floaties, inflatable water rings and other pool toys are not safety devices.

n Install isolation fencing which completely separates the pool or spa area from the house or other structures. An isolation fence restricts unauthorized access from neighbors' yards, other nearby buildings and from inside the house. Isolation fencing is the preferred configuration for pool and spa protection.

n Choose fencing materials that are appropriate for your environment.

n If you have a removable mesh fence, ensure that it is designed properly, installed correctly and maintained according to the manufacturer's instructions. Keep the fence in place, especially during parties and other gatherings. Gates on removable mesh fencing should still be self-closing and self-latching.

n All fences must be nonclimbable, meet all applicable local safety codes and should be at least 60 inches tall, with vertical bars set close to one another so that a small child can not squeeze through (no more than 4 inches of space) and horizontal bars far enough apart that they can not act as a ladder to climb over. The horizontal bar closest to the ground should also not allow enough room for a child to crawl under the fence.

n Gates should be self-closing and self-latching and accommodate a locking device. Gates should open away from the pool and should never be propped open. Check your gate regularly to make sure it operates correctly.

n Keep anything that can be climbed, such as chairs, tables, storage bins, playground equipment, ice chests, etc., inside the fence area.

n All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool should be equipped with a self-closing, self-latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.

n Any type of pool cover, including mechanical covers and nets, requires diligent commitment by pool owners. Replace the cover when the pool is not in use, and check frequently to make sure the cover is in good condition and operates correctly.

n Choose pool and spa safety covers that meet the ASTM International voluntary standard F1346-9. Covers should be properly used and maintained. Rain water that collects on top of the cover should be promptly removed. Keep children and pets off of all safety covers.

n Solar/floating pool covers are not safety devices and are a serious entrapment hazard. If solar covers are used, they should be removed completely before swimming or using the spa.

n Above-ground pool ladders, when not in use, should be secured and locked, or removed. Ladders should never be accessible to children without adult supervision.

n All adults and children should learn to swim.

n Adults should be smart and aware; never consider children drown-proof because they've had swim lessons. Nothing will ever eliminate the risk of drowning.

n Keep a phone poolside for emergency use, so that an adult can call for help if needed.

n Anyone who lives in a home with a pool should learn CPR and rescue breathing.

n Pool owners and operators should enroll in a local water safety course that teaches proper rescue techniques.

n Keep a life-saving ring and shepherd's hook at poolside.

n The Virginia Graeme Baker Federal Pool & Spa Safety Act of 2008 requires that public pools and spas be equipped with anti-entrapment drain covers. Residential pools and spas should also install anti-entrapment devices on all drains, including vacuum hose drains.

n Never leave water in buckets, unused aquariums or coolers.

n Never leave infants, toddlers or young children in a bathtub alone or with another child, not even for a second. Bath seats are not a substitute for adult supervision.

n Ensure that spas have childproof safety covers and are locked when not in use. Check cover locks regularly for needed maintenance.

n Secure or place barriers between children and man-made (fountains or decorative ponds) or natural (creeks, retention ponds) sources of water so that children cannot gain access without adult supervision.

The Southern Nevada Health District reports 41 submersions in 2010 involving children 14 years old or younger. Of those eight were fatal drownings. There are about 103,500 residential swimming pools in the county.