Water safety a must as summer nears

The American Red Cross of Lee County is committed to water safety and drowning prevention. Toddlers run the greatest risk of drowning and helping to eliminate this preventable cause of death has been part of the mission of the Lee County Red Cross for over 90 years.

Drowning prevention means creating layers of protection for children and adults. The following are a few water safety tips shown to have effectiveness:

• Assign a designated water watcher every time a child is near or in the water, especially during "normal" family time and social gatherings

• Adult must maintain eye contact with child/children in a swimming pool, spa, or wading pool and never leave them alone, even for a second.

• Install locks, at least six feet high, well out of children's reach, on all doors leading to pool, spa, decorative ponds or other bodies of water

• Install alarms on doors and windows leading to pool, spa, decorative ponds or other bodies of water

• Install four-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gate around pool or spa

• Keep safety equipment such as a throwable life ring (ring buoy) or shepherds hook poolside within reach of children

The Red Cross has developed well-recognized and trusted water safety training programs and many are focused on teaching children and parents proper water safety skills. The Red Cross' "Parent and Child Aquatics" course is taught at Florida Gulf Coast University, the ciy of Sanibel and the city of Fort Myers. The Lee County chapter also offers the Red Cross program "Longfellow's Whales Tales," which is specifically designed to help teachers and youth leaders in children about safe behavior in, on or around the water.

For more drowning prevention advice, questions or information on any of the Red Cross' water safety training courses, contact the chapter at (239) 278-3401.