This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
In the wake of a near-drowning at a Midvale home on Monday, the Unified Police Department is reminding people of some basic water safety rules for toddlers and even older kids.
The Midvale incident involved a 2-year-old girl found face-down in the family's new above-ground pool at about 7:15 p.m. Monday.
The child apparently sneaked back outside after the family had come in for the night, according to UPD Lt. Lex Bell. She was able to climb the ladder into the pool and was found unconscious and not breathing after being missing for only a few minutes.
The child was flown to Primary Children's Hospital in critical condition and remained on life-support Tuesday.
Now that the warm weather has arrived and most kids are out of school, the number of drownings and near-drownings goes up sharply for emergency responder, Bell said.
He said the Midvale case is one of multiple near-drownings to which UPD has responded in recent months.
One call involved a small child opening the lid of a beverage cooler, falling face-first into the cooler and becoming stuck. Thanks to the efforts of family and a UPD officer assigned to the Riverton Precinct, who arrived very quickly, that child is still alive, according to Bell.
• UPD recommends the following safety tips for toddlers ages 1 to 4:
— Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks if you have a very curious toddler. Also keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed. Most children vulnerable to drowning in a toilet are too short to open doors.
— NEVER leave your child unattended around water. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
— Private Swimming Pools: In-ground pools should have a four foot fence with a locking or self-latching gate around them. Above ground pools should have a removable ladder or removable steps so that the child can't climb into it on their own.
— Learn CPR. Knowing what to do in the case of an emergency is very important and can save lives.
— Teach kids never to go near or in water without an adult present. Having flotation devices can give you a false sense of security. Nothing is fail proof and those water wings can slip off.
— Be alert at public pools. Even though there is a lifeguard present, don't assume that he or she is watching your child.
— Empty all tubs, containers, buckets, play pools, wading pools and water-slides immediately after use. Also, store them upside-down and out of reach of children so that they cannot re-fill with water.
— Enroll your child in swimming lessons if at all possible. Teach them how to tread water and float.
• Tips for older kids, ages 5 to 16:
— Install door and/or window alarms to alert you to the opening of a door or window leading to the pool area.
— Always have children swim with a partner, no matter where you are. That way there will always be someone to call for help or immediately notice if something is wrong.
— Make sure your home pool or spa has a proper drain cover or shut-off function to prevent long hair, loose clothing or body parts from getting trapped.
In the wake of a near-drowning at a Midvale home on Monday, the Unified Police Department is reminding people of some basic water safety rules for toddlers and even older kids.
The Midvale incident involved a 2-year-old girl found face-down in the family's new above-ground pool at about 7:15 p.m. Monday.
The child apparently sneaked back outside after the family had come in for the night, according to UPD Lt. Lex Bell. She was able to climb the ladder into the pool and was found unconscious and not breathing after being missing for only a few minutes.
The child was flown to Primary Children's Hospital in critical condition and remained on life-support Tuesday.
Now that the warm weather has arrived and most kids are out of school, the number of drownings and near-drownings goes up sharply for emergency responder, Bell said.
He said the Midvale case is one of multiple near-drownings to which UPD has responded in recent months.
One call involved a small child opening the lid of a beverage cooler, falling face-first into the cooler and becoming stuck. Thanks to the efforts of family and a UPD officer assigned to the Riverton Precinct, who arrived very quickly, that child is still alive, according to Bell.
• UPD recommends the following safety tips for toddlers ages 1 to 4:
— Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks if you have a very curious toddler. Also keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed. Most children vulnerable to drowning in a toilet are too short to open doors.
— NEVER leave your child unattended around water. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.
— Private Swimming Pools: In-ground pools should have a four foot fence with a locking or self-latching gate around them. Above ground pools should have a removable ladder or removable steps so that the child can't climb into it on their own.
— Learn CPR. Knowing what to do in the case of an emergency is very important and can save lives.
— Teach kids never to go near or in water without an adult present. Having flotation devices can give you a false sense of security. Nothing is fail proof and those water wings can slip off.
— Be alert at public pools. Even though there is a lifeguard present, don't assume that he or she is watching your child.
— Empty all tubs, containers, buckets, play pools, wading pools and water-slides immediately after use. Also, store them upside-down and out of reach of children so that they cannot re-fill with water.
— Enroll your child in swimming lessons if at all possible. Teach them how to tread water and float.
• Tips for older kids, ages 5 to 16:
— Install door and/or window alarms to alert you to the opening of a door or window leading to the pool area.
— Always have children swim with a partner, no matter where you are. That way there will always be someone to call for help or immediately notice if something is wrong.
— Make sure your home pool or spa has a proper drain cover or shut-off function to prevent long hair, loose clothing or body parts from getting trapped.