EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS FOR POOLS & SPAS
Emergency preparedness is considered the last line of protection against drowning. Emergency preparedness includes having proper rescue equipment at poolside, knowing proper rescue techniques, and knowing CPR. While pool & spa owners should add Layers of Protection to reduce the risk of a drowning incident happening, they should also be prepared to respond to an emergency should one occur.
Proper preparation and rescue during an emergency can make a difference between life and death of the victim. Following are some tips:
PREPARATION
- Bystander CPR has been shown through research to reduce the risk of drowning death. Take a CPR course as soon as possible.
- Current CPR Certification should be maintained by all pool & spa owners, supervising adults and teens, and parents. Be sure the CPR certification includes training on adults, children, and infants.
- Land line telephones (preferred) or cell phones allow for quick access to the 911 system so that EMS professionals can be dispatched quickly. Phones should always be available at poolside when swimming.
- Safety Flotation Buoys and aluminum or fiberglass poles that have a Shepherd’s hook attached can be hung on fence areas. These items allow the rescuer to throw or reach out to a victim without having to enter the water area.
RESCUE
- Know the difference between a swimmer in distress and an active drowning victim.
- Struggling or distressed swimmers will use anything – even another person – to try to get their head above water. This survival instinct will often put the rescuer at risk. For a struggling swimmer, it is best to give them something else to grab onto such as a flotation device.
- A non‐responsive active drowning victim should be pulled from the water immediately and supervising adults should begin CPR and call 9‐1‐1.
Proper response and CPR techniques are not skills that be learned during an emergency. Preparing is essential. It is important to know how to respond. Bystander CPR offers the last Layer of Protection once a drowning incident occurs.
Local firefighters and paramedics are highly skilled and trained in emergency response. But when a drowning occurs it is imperative that rescue and emergency response begin before the firefighters and paramedics arrive on scene. Your immediate response at the poolside can make a difference in increasing the chances of survival from the drowning incident.
Get prepared. Learn CPR. Be confident that you can take proper action if you have to. A life may depend on it.
