Orange County Fire Rescue Department
Public Information Office
Carl L. Plaugher, Fire Chief

BOLETÍN DE PRENSA

PARA SU COMUNICACION INMEDIATA                   

Orange County, Fl., Last week Orange County Firefighters were dispatched to 3 separate tragic drowning incidents. As Orange County Citizens and visitors celebrate the 4th of July, Orange County Firefighter's would like to remind parents and caregivers to take critical steps that will help protect children from drowning hazards in all types of pools.

Parents may think that if their child falls in the water they will hear lots of splashing and screaming and that they will be able to come to the rescue. Many times, children slip under the water silently. Even people near the pool report hearing nothing out of the ordinary.

To reduce the risk of drowning, Orange County Firefighters recommend:

•Install a four-sided, isolation pool-fence with self-closing and self-latching gates around the pool. Layers of protection between your child and the pool, including barriers prevent unsupervised access by young children. If the house forms a side of the barrier, use alarms on doors leading to the pool area or a power safety cover over the pool.
•The fence should be at least 4 feet tall and completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard.
•If a child is missing, check the pool or body of water first!
•All parents should learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
•Have rescue equipment and a phone near the pool, it is important to always be prepared for an emergency.
•Install a telephone near the pool. Know how to contact local emergency medical services. Post the emergency number, 911, in an easy-to-see place.
•Keep small children away from buckets containing liquid: 5-gallon industrial containers are a particular danger. Be sure to empty buckets when household chores are done.

Un ahogamiento puede suceder en los pocos minutos que le lleva atender el teléfono. Aproximadamente el 77 por ciento de las víctimas se habían ausentado por tan sólo 5 minutos o menos cuando las encontraron. Por lo general, se pierde un tiempo valioso cuando buscan a un niño perdido por todos lados menos en la piscina. Como cada segundo cuenta, siempre busque a un niño perdido primero en la piscina.  

~fin~