Concord Police Department: Concord Police And Fire Departments Remind Residents Of Pool Safety Precautions

Press release from the Concord Police Department:

June 25, 2021

Police Chief Joseph O’Connor and Fire Chief Tom Judge would like to remind Concord residents to take the proper precautions and adhere to state regulations regarding swimming pools this summer.

The American Red Cross reports that more than 200 children drown in swimming pools each year. Additionally, drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children between the ages of 1 and 4, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

How to Recognize When a Swimmer is in Distress

Many water emergencies can happen quickly and quietly, so knowing how to recognize when a person in the water is in distress is critical.

According to the American Red Cross, a swimmer in distress may still try to swim but make little or no forward progress. Additionally, a drowning victim may be vertical but unable to move forward or tread water. They may try to press down with their arms in an attempt to keep their head above water. A passive drowning victim would be motionless and floating face down on the bottom or near the surface of the water.

Know How to Respond

Residents with pools should ensure they have the right equipment on hand, including reaching poles and buoys, or even an empty water jug tied to a rope or broom.

The Concord Police and Fire Departments consider pool safety to be a top priority, and reminds residents to follow these safety regulations and recommended precautions:

For a complete listing of Massachusetts building code regulations regarding swimming pools, click here.

This press release was produced by the Concord Police Department. The views expressed here are the author’s own.