Ronkonkoma, NY - June 9, 2015 - Water safety should be a primary concern not just in  the summer, but all year long. Being that it only takes a few inches of water for a child to drown, it is important for adults to be aware and remain updated on important water safety procedures to prevent drowning incidents from occurring. Legislator Tom Muratore (R-Ronkonkoma) would like to provide the following recommendations to ensure a happy and safe summer for you and your family.  

Safety Systems:  

Barriers
Installing a barrier surrounding the pool will limit water access to adults only.
All gates around the pool should be at least 4 feet tall, with a self-latching hook, out of a child’s reach to prevent unattended children from entering the pool area.   

Alarm Systems
Installing an alarm system will alert adults of an unattended child entering the pool area, or leaving the home.  
Door alarms should be placed in homes to alert adults when a child is leaving the  home.
Alarms installed on gates allow adults to be informed if an unattended child enters the pool area.
Pool wave alarms can be placed on the pool surroundings to set off an alarm when waves become too large and dangerous for small children in the pool.  
All of these alarm systems should have a distinct to ne, which sounds for a minimum of 30 seconds, and can be measured from 10 feet away.

Safety Covers
Installing a safety cover, either manual or automatic, will ensure that children will not fall into the pool, and make them aware that the pool is not open for use.  

Follow these simple steps to ensure pool safety:
Never leave a child unattended. Stay close, and be alert of children in and around the pool.
Teach and practice basic water safety tips with your children.
Keep a telephone close by in case of an emergency.
Learn to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and update those skills regularly.

Legislator Muratore is asking everyone to take the Pool Safety Pledge:       
“I won’t leave children alone near a pool, not for a minute, not for a second, not EVER!”