caution more than ever necessary at the edge of swimming pools
Every summer, several hundred people drown in France, especially children. Several accidents have affected the Toulouse region (Haute-Garonne) since July. The authorities recall the necessary precautions to avoid these tragedies.
At the beginning of July, a little girl barely 19 months old drowned during a family swim in the Tarn. The 15th of July, yougrandmother and 8-month-old grandson drownsoutheast of Toulouse. Two weeks later, in the Gers, three-year-old boy dies after being rushed to hospital. He came from drowning in an inflatable pool that contained only 23 centimeters of water. Wednesday, August 3, a two-year-old child from Tarn-et-Garonne fell into his grandparents’ swimming pool. He did not survive. In just over a month, four children have drowned in the Toulouse region.
This particular drama really shows the extent of the drama. “Every summer in France, 500 people die by drowning”, alerts the SDIS of Haute-Garonne (31)recalling that “toddlers are particularly affectedand over-represented drowning victims.
Despite the often rapid intervention of the emergency services, the chances of survival are slim. So how to fight against the increasing drownings during the holiday periods? Here are the rescue recommendations.
“An unattended child can drown in 20 centimeters of water in seconds.”alerts the SDIS 31. The firefighters therefore recommend to stay”permanently” with children when they are in the water. It should also preferably be equipped with “age-appropriate armbands” and the supervisors are at or near a water point.
Beware of buoys, mattresses or inflatable boats!
“They don’t guarantee drowning but they can also drag your children out of reach.” emphasize relief.
To avoid drowning, swimming should also be mastered when one wishes to bathe. Consequently, “teach your children to swim from an early age”, recommends the SDIS 31.
Even when you know how to swim properly, precautions are required in the water. For example, you must respect the areas intended for swimming, enter the water in several stages,
“Every year, despite the obligation to equip swimming pools with a safety device, young children drown“, notes the SDIS of Haute-Garonne. Several methods that can prevent anyone from accidentally falling into existing water: barriers, swimming pool shelters, tarpaulin alarm…
But, as the departmental fire and rescue services remind us, “these devices do not replace the active and permanent supervision of children by an adult”.
It is also strongly recommended to learn first aid gestures. They make it possible to intervene while waiting for the arrival of firefighters at the scene of an accident.