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Home Pool Residents Get Free Safety Help
May 16, 2008 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Diane Holm, Public Information Officer HOME POOL RESIDENTS GET FREE SAFETY HELP FORT MYERS, FL-Layers of protection from drowning can be created easily and inexpensively as a part of residents' daily pool maintenance and the South West Florida Drowning Prevention Committee is teaching everyone just how to do it at Bonita Springs Community Pool during tomorrow's Water Safety Day. For the first time, the local Pool and Spa industry is actively involved in the drowning prevention event, scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with demonstrations and tools that pool and spa owners can use to create a safer spot for water recreation in backyards. There are safer pumps, drains, and self-closing, self-latching gates shown. Bonita staff is demonstrating and teaching swim and rescue skills, proper life jacket usage, games like fishing for safety, and giving out free hot dogs and ice cream. Lee County EMS, the Children's Hospital of Southwest Florida and Lee County Parks and Recreation will also be present teaching safety and giving out information, tools and goodies for the children. "Drownings happen when parents don't believe it will happen to them, such as during a gathering for Memorial Day Weekend," said Diane Holm, Public Information Officer for Lee County Division of Public Safety. "But it does--quickly, silently--and even if the victim survives, the damage changes lives forever." The only sure way to prevent a drowning tragedy is to create layers of protection, said Holm, who is also a director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (NDPA). No parent can watch their child 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. NDPA recommends the following layers-door locks and alarms; 4-sided fencing with self-closing, self-latching gates; swimming and water safety lessons for children; water safety and rescue skills for parents; and CPR training-to buy parents time to locate their children in a safe place when they are missing. This is the first in a series of four drowning prevention events conveniently located at public pools throughout the county. The dates, times and locations are as follows: Bonita Springs Community Pool, 26890 Pine Avenue, May 17, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
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