City reminds residents about water safety this summer

Residents Reminded to Take Precautions to Ensure Their Health and Safety

The City of Naperville would like to remind residents to be safe in and around bodies of water this summer season. Residents are advised to talk with their families and children about water safety in a variety of situations.

The Naperville Fire Department conducted five water rescues over Memorial Day weekend. Even if a person is just enjoying the river from its bank, the water can be dangerous. River levels can change drastically, depending on rainfall, making passage and maneuverability in the water more difficult. Due to recent local rainfall, the river is at dangerously high levels. If participating in water activities, a U.S. Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) should always be worn. Illinois law states that all children under the age of 13 must wear a PFD on vessels less than 26 feet in length. Below are tips in mind when fitting yourself or your child in a life jacket:

• Life jackets are not like clothes. You don't grow into them.

• Life jackets should be Coast Guard approved and the correct size for your weight.

• Life jackets should fit snugly. The shoulders of the jacket should not come up above the nose or ears when pulled up or it will not stay on in the water.

• If your child's weight exceeds available children's sizes, you must purchase an adult-sized life jacket for them.

• Remember, children don't float, but life jackets do.

While most people believe that they are seasoned swimmers, boaters or kayakers, when the weather brings the river to dangerous levels, the best advice is to stay out of the water. River safety tips include:

• Water that appears calm on the surface may have a current below the surface.

• Do not underestimate the power of an unseen current.

• If you are caught in a current and are being swept away, roll over on your back and go downstream feet first to avoid hitting your head.

• When you are out of the strongest part of the current, swim straight towards shore.

• Don't try to swim against a current if caught in one.

• Swim gradually out of the current by swimming across it.

A hydraulic is a strong force created by water flowing downward over an object, then reversing its flow. The reverse flow of the water can trap and hold a person under the water. If you are caught in a hydraulic, do not fight it - swim to the bottom and then swim out with the current to reach the surface. Also make note of the dangerous “toos” before engaging in summer water activities. These include being too tired, too cold, too far from safety, having too much sun, too much to drink and participating in too much strenuous activity.

Pool Safety

An adult should actively watch children at all times while they are in a pool. For infants and toddlers, an adult should be in the water and within arm's reach, providing “touch supervision.” For older children, an adult should be paying constant attention and free from distractions, like talking on the phone, socializing, tending to household chores or drinking alcohol. The supervising adult must know how to swim.

If you have a pool, insist that the following rules are followed:

• Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not in use.

• Empty blow-up pools after each use.

• No tricycles or other riding toys should be allowed at poolside.

• No electrical appliances should be allowed near the pool.

• No diving should be permitted in a pool that is not deep enough.

• No running should be allowed on the pool deck.

Pool Fences

Children can climb out a window, though a doggy door or sneak out a door to get to the back yard and a pool. To prevent small children from entering a pool area on their own, there should be a fence that completely surrounds the pool or spa. Combined with the watchful eyes of an adult, a fence is the best way to protect your child and other children who may visit or live nearby.

Pool fences should also:

• Be climb-resistant and should not have anything alongside it (such as lawn furniture) that can be used to climb it.

• Be at least four feet high and have no footholds or handholds that could help a child climb it.

• Have no more than four inches between vertical slats. Chain-link fences are very easy to climb and are not recommended as pool fences. If they must be used, the diamond shape should not be bigger than one and three-fourths inches.

• Have a gate that is well maintained and is self-closing and self-latching. It should only open away from the pool. The latches should be higher than a child can reach – 54 inches from the bottom of the gate.

• For above-ground pools, always keep children away from steps or ladders. When the pool is not in use, lock or remove the ladders to prevent access by children.

Diving

Serious spinal cord injuries, permanent brain damage and death can occur to swimmers who dive into shallow water or spring upward on the diving board and hit it on the way down.

Keep safe by following these simple common-sense diving rules:

• Check how deep the water is. Enter the water feet first, especially when going in for the first time.

• Never dive into above-ground pools; they are usually not deep enough.

• Never dive into the shallow end of a pool.

• Never dive through inner tubes or other pool toys.

• Learn how to dive properly by taking classes.

For more information on the City of Naperville, visit www.naperville.il.us. Sign up to receive the latest news on the City of Naperville's projects and initiatives via e-mail at www.naperville.il.us/enews.aspx.