Water Safety Month: Avoiding accidents this summer

About one in five people who die from drowning are children 14 and younger.

May is National Water Safety Month and safety officials around Yuma want your family to be safe this summer.

Pools, canals, and the Colorado River here in Yuma are just a few examples of what parents need to be aware of.

The main factors that could lead to drowning are lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers, supervision, and alcohol use.

Not only is swimming in local canals dangerous, but it is also illegal.

“We want people to have a great time with the water resources we have here in the Yuma area that we want them to be safe and careful as they use them safety is no accident,” said Mike Erfert with the Yuma Fire Department.

In order to prevent drowning, make sure to teach swimming skills at a young age.

Also, take advantage of free CPR classes.

CPR performed by bystanders has been shown to save lives and improve outcomes in drowning victims.

If you have a swimming pool at home, install fencing to separate the pool from the house and yard.

“We really care about our customers and we care about their families and so we try to push as much as we can to make sure that they fix gates that they have the proper safety equipment to make sure that they are taking care of their loved ones,” said Chris Gray, service manager of Green Valley Pool Service.

There are also new technology devices that can be installed to ensure safety.

Door alarms, children’s water alarm bracelets, as well as electric gates will help your family stay safe.