DOH-Bay shares water safety tips for National Water Safety Month
BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – The Florida Department of Health in Bay County is sharing tips and raising awareness on drowning prevention as May is National Water Safety Month.
According to a news release, children ages 1 to 4 years old are more likely to drown in a home swimming pool than children ages 5 to 19 years old, who are more likely to drown in natural bodies of water.
The DOH-Bay said that learning and following water safety rules is vital to help keep everyone safe and let those who enjoy water recreation without the danger of drowning, as everyone plays a role in drowning prevention.
DOH-Bay Water Safety Tips:
– Always keep your eyes on children in and around water, including pools and open bodiesof water. Actively supervising and giving children your undivided attention when they arein or around water can help prevent drownings.
– Never leave a child alone around water.
– If your child is missing, check other pools or surrounding bodies of water.
– Use barriers around water, including fences, self-closing/self-latching gates, and securedoors with alarms. Barriers help prevent young children from wandering into bodies ofwater, including lakes, pools, ponds, and more.
– Have a phone nearby in case you need to call 911 in an emergency.
– Open cuts or wounds should not be immersed in water; if there's bacteria in the water, itcan enter the body through a cut or wound.
– If a cut or wound happens when in the water, it should be washed with clean, runningwater and soap and covered with a clean, dry, waterproof bandage
DOH Beach and Lake Swimming Tips:
– Swim It: Always swim with a buddy, and when safety flags and signs give it the all-clearto do so.
– Shore It: If you have a weakened immune system, a cut on your skin, or don't have abuddy to swim with, stay on dry land.
– Dodge It: If you encounter animals that live near or in the water, stay away. Also, do notdrink, swim, wade, use personal watercrafts, or come into contact with waters wherethere are visible algal blooms like red tide and blue-green algae. For current informationon red tide or blue-green algae, please visit Protecting Florida Together or the FloridaDepartment of Environmental Protection's Algal Bloom Dashboard.
For more information, contact DOH-Bay at 850-481-4806.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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