The following is a message from Wilton Fire Chief Ronald Kanterman.

Yes, you read it right. April POOLS Day is here! April 30th is hereby declared April POOLS Day in Wilton. As we kick off the pool, swimming, boating and water activity season, let’s take the time to understand the dangers of water activities. The Wilton Fire Department, Police Department and Dive Rescue Team are supporting this Town wide initiative along with the Wilton Family YMCA and Wilton School system.

Now it’s time to dig in to the program a bit more. Listed below are things to think about as we embark on the warmer months. Drowning is not limited to the pool, pond, lake or the ocean. Also note the other drowning prevention measures listed. Many of these ways to prevent drowning involve “BLOCK-WATCH-LEARN“:

  1. Use physical barriers to prevent unauthorized access to any source of water in, around, or near your home. (BLOCK)
  2. Keep bathroom doors closed and toilet seats locked down. (BLOCK)
  3. Empty cleaning, car wash and other buckets right after use.
  4. Empty kiddie pools immediately after use.
  5. Keep hot tub covers on and locked down when not in use. (BLOCK)
  6. Install barriers, fences, etc. around pools and maintain their integrity. (BLOCK)
  7. Educate your family about the dangers of drainage ditches, garden ponds, creeks, streams, lakes, ponds, wells, cisterns and canals. (LEARN)
  8. Teach non-swimmers how to swim. (LEARN)

Remember:

  • Anyone watching children who are in or around water must understand that drowning happens quickly and suddenly. Never take your eyes off of those you supervise, not even for a moment. (WATCH)
  • Any source of water is a potential drowning hazard especially for young children and weak swimmers. (LEARN)
  • It’s a known fact that people can drown in as little as 3 inches of water. (LEARN)
  • Know how to respond to a swimmer in distress and get everyone to swimming lessons. (LEARN)

For more information on water safety and drown prevention, visit the Red Cross Water Safety webpage or the Drowning Prevention Coalition website.