Water safety of concern to Safe Kids Grant County

EPHRATA - According to Safe Kids Worldwide, two-thirds of drowning deaths occur between May and August.

Safe Kids Grant County reminds parents of tips to keep kids and teens safe around water this summer.

Safe Kids Grant County reminds parents and caregivers to keep an eye on their kids and watch them at all times when they're in and around water.

"A drowning child cannot cry or shout for help. So simply being near your child doesn't always help," Safe Kids Grant County Coordinator Maria Vargas said. "Whether it's a trip to the lake or a dip in the community or backyard pool, you can make certain that swimming is as safe as it is fun by following a few basic safety tips, starting with keeping your eyes on your kids at all times."

Vargas noted that drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages 1-19. On average in the U.S., more than 1,000 children die each year due to unintentional drowning, and more than 5,000 are seen in emergency rooms for injuries from near-drowning incidents.

Safe Kids Grant County recommends the following six tips to keep kids safe in and around water:

1. Give kids your full attention.

2. Use the Water Watcher strategy. A Water Watcher card designates an adult as the Water Watcher for a certain amount of time (such as 15-minute periods) to prevent lapses in supervision.

3. Teach kids not to swim alone.

4. Learn CPR. Contact your local hospital or fire department for information about local CPR classes.

5. Be extra careful around pool drains. Educate your children about the dangers of drain entanglement and entrapment and teach them to never play or swim near drains or suction outlets.

6. Wear life jackets. Always have your children wear a life jacket approved by the U.S. Coast Guard while on boats, around open bodies of water or when participating in water sports. Big 5 stores have partnered with Safe Kids Coalitions to offer a 25 percent off coupon life jackets.

Grant County has 12 Life Jacket Loaner boards to help keep you and your family safe. Locations are:

Billy Clapp Bureau of Reclamation

Blue Heron Park City of Moses Lake

Blue Lake Washington State Fish and Wildlife

Cascade Park City of Moses Lake

Connelly Park Moses Lake Irrigation and Rehabilitation District

Coulee City Park City of Coulee City

Sun Lands Estate Washington State Fish and Wildlife

Steamboat Rock Washington State Parks (2 stations) Lower Peninsula Park & the City of Moses Lake

Priest Rapids Recreation Area Desert Aire

Potholes Washington State Parks