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Before diving in, immerse yourself in pool-safety rules
Home Pool Safety
Make sure your pool has appropriate barriers. Surround it with a high fence, place a safety cover on it and remove any ladders or steps when not in use.
Never allow anyone to swim alone and keep children especially under active supervision.
Establish and enforce rules, such as no diving, swim with a buddy and walk.
Encourage everyone in the home to know how to respond to emergencies by taking water safety, first aid and CPR courses.
Source: American Red Cross
By Ashley Luthern
BOARDMAN
When everyone else around her froze, one Boardman mom dove in to save her 2-year-old son from drowning.
Cheri DeGregory and her son, Vincent DeGregory, now 20, were filming an advertisement for pool toys.
“We were surrounded by people and cameras, and he just decided to jump in,” said Cheri, who reached her son and pulled him out of the 10-feet deep water.
Vincent was conscious and began vomiting water. Cheri credited her training in CPR and first aid for her quick response. She works with Christian Home Child Care, and said she continues to update her certifications.
With 11 days at 90 degrees or higher in June and July, many families are diving in pools to cool off and will continue the fun this month before school starts. But more time in the pool also means more time for accidents and drownings to occur.
On average, nine people drown every day in the U.S., an American Red Cross report stated. In 2009, 63 Ohioans drowned and of them, 51 were age 19 and under, according to the Ohio Department of Safety.
Drownings “can happen as soon as 10 seconds,” said Chris Hughes, aquatic director at the D.D. & Velma Davis YMCA in Boardman.
“Most drownings are silent. They don’t call out for help, and they are not seen by anybody.”
Hughes instructs future lifeguards, such as Margo Ucchino, in their training. She tells the class to watch for anyone wearing a flotation device, hanging onto another person or bobbing in the water without touching.
“You have to enforce the rules, like no running,” said Ucchino, 18, of Poland.
“You have to be the authority figure and not let those things go because they could lead to bigger problems.”
Hughes said those who don’t have training should be cautious and bring a flotation device with them.
“We teach the public to ‘throw before you go’ so you are able to hold onto an object rather than put yourself in danger,” she said.
Cheri said her son’s hair helped her make the rescue.
“Most moms want to cut their sons’ hair short, but that’s what you’ll see and feel when they’re flailing,” she said. “You can always find the hair.”
The most important factor in preventing drownings, Hughes said, is staying alert.
“Lifeguards and parents should constantly be scanning the water looking for signs of distress,” she said.