Fire official offers simple guidelines to prevent water-related accidents

Chris Drone, fire marshal
Clark County Fire District 3

The weather is warming up and more people are out enjoying our beautiful lakes, rivers and beaches. As you head out this summer, we want you to be safe and know how to prevent an unintentional drowning.

Drowning is a leading cause of death for young children, but drowning does not discriminate, and no one is “drown-proof.” Enjoying the water, though, does not have to result in tragedy. In fact, most water-related accidents can be avoided by following a few simple guidelines:

• Wear a life jacket
• Don’t dive into unknown bodies of water, shallow water, or off bridges or cliffs
• Area lakes and rivers are cold enough to shock or immobilize even the strongest swimmers
• Know your limits; drownings often occur when swimmers get tired
• Don’t swim alone
• Swim in designated areas only; “no swimming” signs means the water isn’t safe for swimming
• Keep children in your sights at all times; drownings can happen quickly and silently
• Call 9-1-1 immediately if someone is in trouble

Being aware of your situation and following these guidelines makes a huge difference. Please enjoy the water safely this summer.