When it’s hot, remember swimming safety





As summer heats up, L.A. County Supervisor Zev Yaro-slavsky is reminding all area residents to follow recognized safety guidelines around backyard pools.


"Drowning is the leading cause of death among toddlers from one to four years old," Yaroslavsky said. "These are tragedies that just don’t have to happen."


According to county public health officials, 100 people will drown in Los Angeles County this year, most of them in a backyard pool of their own or that of a neighbor or friend.


Toddlers and seniors are at increased risk of drowning, and officials noted that the number of children who suffer brain damage from near-drowning ranges from seven to 10 times the number who actually drown.


Yaroslavsky urged residents to take precautions such as maintaining an adequate barrier between house and pool; keeping a phone in the pool area; keeping a long-handled hook nearby that can reach someone in trouble in the water; learning CPR; ensuring that no toys are left in the pool area; and always having adults supervise children when they’re in or near the pool.


For more information about the county’s safety education program, Water Awareness Training for Children in the Home (WATCH), call (323) 881-2411.



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