Annual Expo Promotes Water Safety

The fifth Water Safety Expo was held May 21. Photos by Nicole Mooradian.

by Nicole Mooradian

Every summer, Los Angeles County firefighters and paramedics hear the words, “I only looked away for just a few seconds!” Unfortunately, 20 seconds is all it takes for a child to drown, and drowning accidents are a leading cause of death for children under 4 years old.

“Children Drown Without a Sound” was a recurring theme during the fifth Water Safety Expo, held May 21 at the Santa Clarita Aquatic Center. The event, which was organized by Los Angeles County Fire Department Division 3 Community Services Liaison Stephanie English, promoted water safety through educational booths and demonstrations.

Santa Clarita Valley residents received lessons in Hands-Only CPR from firefighters and Fire Explorers, while members of a local high school dive team showed off their skills.

An In-N-Out Cookout Trailer offered hamburgers and cheeseburgers for lunch.

Paramedics participated in a mock drowning scenario, where a child was found floating in a pool. As the child’s relative tried to revive her, edited audio from a real 911 call was broadcast to the audience.

Almost 70 percent of all drowning accidents occur in backyard swimming pools. If someone is having trouble in the water, follow these steps:

1. Don’t panic; yell for help.
2. Get the child/adult out of the pool immediately.
3. Call 911 immediately for emergency medical services.
4. If you’re trained, begin CPR if necessary. If you’re not trained in CPR, follow telephone instructions from the Fire Department until firefighters arrive to assist you.

Throughout the event, residents learned other information about pool safety:

• Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near any body of water, even for a second.
• Don’t rely solely on barriers, such as fences or walls near a pool or spa. There is no substitute for constant supervision.
• Keep toys, tricycles, and other children’s playthings out of the water and away from the pool or spa.
• Don’t consider your children to be “drown-proof” because you enrolled them in swimming or “water-proofing” classes.
• Don’t rely on inflatable devices to keep your child afloat. These are not substitutes for adult supervision.
• Make sure your pool or spa has a fence, wall or safety cover that guards against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.
• Make sure doors leading to the pool or spa area are self-closing and self-latching, or are equipped with exit alarms and are never propped open.
• Always drain standing (surface) water from the pool cover. Remember that even a few inches of water can be hazardous, especially to young children.
• Install a phone—or keep a cordless phone—in the pool or spa area.

The Water Safety Expo is an annual event.

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