Water Safety

The Facts

• Drowning is the leading cause of preventable death in Fresno County for children under the age of five, and the second leading cause of death in adolescents and adults ages 15 to 44.
• Most young children who drowned at home had been out of sight less than five minutes. (Center for Disease Control and Prevention). 
• Most of these children drown in their own backyard swimming pool, but others drown in buckets, bathtubs, toilets, dog water bowls, canals and ponds. Small children are top-heavy, and they don’t have the upper body strength to lift themselves out of these dangerous situations. Even if the child survives, they are often left with permanent brain damage.
• Children who live in rural areas or work on farms are also at especially high risk of drowning if water hazards are present. Canals and ditches pose as a HUGE drowning hazard in Fresno County. If you must be near them, be aware of the following conditions that could prove hazardous.

Visiting Parks and Recreational Facilities

Protect Yourself and Others

Staying physically active is one of the best ways to keep your mind and body healthy. In many areas, people can visit parks, trails, and open spaces as a way to relieve stress, get some fresh air and vitamin D, stay active, and enjoy some quality time with family and friends.

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Water Safety Tips

• Know where your children are at all times and never leave a child unattended around water, even in the bath.
• Install barriers around home pools store all toys outside the pool area. 
• Have life-saving devices near the pool, such as a pole/hook, or flotation devices.
• Always designate an adult "water watcher" and avoid all distracting activities while watching the children.
• Store buckets and kiddie pools upside down. 
• Keep toilet lids shut and use toilet locks in homes with an infant or toddler. 
• Avoid using air-filled toys in place of life jackets.
• Never swim in open water alone, or while under the influence of alcohol or medications.
• Never swim when thunder or lightning is present.
• Never dive into unfamiliar or shallow bodies of water.

Be Water Safe On Vacation!

Whether vacationing in Fresno County, staying at a hotel with a pool, visiting relatives or friends who own pools, taking a tubing trip down a river or boating on a lake… know how to stay safe wherever water is present!

• When boating, wear a Coast Guard approved lifejacket. When planning boating events, make sure to pack a lifejacket for each person. Children are required to wear a lifejacket at all times in a boat. Bring along other items that float such as cooler, cushions, etc.
• Know the hazards in and under an open water area, such as marine life, parasites, currents, drop-offs, very cold water, or submerged objects. Enter all unfamiliar water feet first.
• If the water is shared by boats, BE VISIBLE. Have your child wear a bright colored swim cap, stay close to shore, and actively watch for boats.
• If your child falls in the river, go downstream immediately to position yourself to help.

Fresno County Swim Lessons

• Kerman 
• Selma
• Reedley 
• Sanger
• Kingsburg

Resources

• American Red Cross CPR Classes 
• Water Safety Council of Fresno County
• Fresno County Fire Water Safety 
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Swimming 

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