DuPage County Health Department encourages you to 'Pool Safely' this summer

A June 2019 report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission highlights the need to reduce drowning accidents, which remains the leading cause of accidental death among children, age 1 to 4. Non-fatal drowning injuries have also increased.

From 2016-2018, 73 percent of childhood submersion injuries treated at emergency departments involved children below age 5. In 2018, between Memorial Day and Labor Day, six Illinois children died due to accidental drowning.

In the spring of 2019, the DuPage County Health Department became a CPSC Pool Safely campaign partner with the goal of reducing child drownings and entrapments in pools and spas.

To keep children safe around the water, follow these "Pool Safely" tips:

• Install a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate around all pools and spas.

• Designate a Water Watcher to supervise children at all times around the water. This person should not be distracted by smartphones, reading materials or conversation.

• Learn how to swim and teach your child to swim.

• Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults.

• Avoid entrapment by teaching children to stay away from pool drains and pipes. Keep long hair, bathing suit straps and draw strings away from drains.

• Ensure that any pool or spa/hot tub that you use has drain covers that meet federal safety standards. If you're not sure, ask your pool service provider for details.

Before going to the pool, take the "Pool Safely" pledge then pass it on to three friends or loved ones. Together, we can promote safety in and around the water in DuPage County.

To learn more about the DuPage County Health Department's Pool Safely Northern Illinois Program, call (630) 221-7198.