Stamford EMS Shares Water Safety Tips

As we’re making plans to enjoy the final weeks of summer vacation, kids and families will undoubtedly take to area pools, waterparks and the beach.  Stamford EMS wants to remind parents and caregivers to actively supervise children at all times when they’re in and around water.

According to the National Safety Council, roughly nine people die from unintentional drowning every day in the US, and it’s the second leading cause of death for people age 5-24.

“Your undivided attention is needed when children are around water,” said Patricia Squires, Stamford EMS Chief and C.E.O.  “Talking, reading or taking care of another child are distracting, and drowning can happen in a matter of minutes.”

To keep children safe around water, safety tips include teaching kids to swim, and making sure they know water survival skills.  These skills include: stepping or jumping into water over their head; returning to the surface and floating or treading water for one minute; turning around in a full circle to find an exit; being able to swim 25 yards to exit the water; and exiting the water. With home pools, fences must be installed that surround all sides of the pool and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.

Knowing what to do in an emergency is imperative.  Performing rescue breathing and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before Emergency Medical Services (EMS) arrives increases the likelihood of survival.  Unfortunately, an estimated 70 percent of Americans either don't know or have forgotten how to administer this lifesaving measure.

“Everyone should know CPR,” said Squires.  “We offer Basic Life Support courses that cover breathing and cardiac emergencies in adults, children and infants.  We make the training as convenient as possible, with courses offered online, at your location or in our training academy.”

Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills may help you save a child’s life.  To learn more about the courses Stamford EMS offers, visit www.StamfordEMS.org or call (203) 968-1118.

About Stamford Emergency Medical Services, Inc. (SEMS).

Connecticut’s only CAAS accredited EMS agency, SEMS services over 14,000 calls each year as a private, nonprofit organization.  Since it accepted responsibility for Stamford’s ambulance services in 1992, Stamford Emergency Medical Services has remained clearly focused in its mission to provide high quality, compassionate emergency care and education to the communities it serves.  To learn more, or to make a donation, visit stamfordems.org or call (203) 968-1118.

C
Submitted by Cos Cob, CT

Become a Local Voice in Your Community!

HamletHub invites you to contribute stories, events, and more to keep your neighbors informed and connected.

Read Next