["Your County Matters!" Main Menu] [Oswego County Homepage]

The past several weeks of sweltering weather have prompted folks to cool off in nearby pools, lakes and rivers. While a swim or boat ride is refreshing, it's critical that we all remember the importance of water safety.

Drownings can occur just about anywhere - in backyard pools, rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, the ocean, as well as bathtubs and buckets. Drownings can occur in as little as 20 seconds, and in as little as one inch of water. According to a recent study by the state Department of Health, most drowning victims are teenagers or children under age five.

These tragedies can often be prevented by following some basic safety measures while swimming and boating:

• Never swim alone. About 40 percent of people who drowned were alone in the water.
• Never leave a young child unsupervised in or around water, even for a moment. If you're a parent, make sure you are watching your child even when other adults or a lifeguard is present.
• Children should swim in designated and supervised swimming areas. Swift current, drop-offs, and deep water can cause problems for even good swimmers.
• Families can enjoy several public beaches and public pools in Oswego County that have been inspected by the county health department. They include Mexico Point State Park on Mexico Point Drive, Mexico; Sandy Island Beach State Park, county Route 15, Sandy Creek; Scriba Town Park, O'Connor Road, Scriba; Selkirk Shores State Park, state Route 3, Pulaski; Taft Bay Park, state Route 49, Constantia; Fulton West Side Pool, 605 W. Broadway, Fulton; Rowlee Beach Pool, East Twelfth Street, Fulton; and Gallagher Pool, East Seventh Street, Oswego.
• If you own a pool, it's your responsibility to make it inaccessible to children. Pools should have self-closing gates and be fenced in compliance with the State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. Most children who drowned in pools had been out of sight for less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.
• Don't drink alcohol if you are planning to go swimming or boating. Alcohol slows reaction time and affects balance and judgment. Its effects are magnified by exposure to the sun and heat. About half of all drownings of people over age 14 are associated with alcohol or drug use.
• Personal watercraft and open motorboats account for most boating fatalities in the U.S. Make sure that every baby, child, teen and adult wears a personal flotation device (PFD) or life vest.
• Always operate a boat or watercraft at a safe speed, within your ability, and obey posted speed limits. Keep a safe distance from people, objects and other boats.

Whether you're kayaking on the Salmon River or floating in a backyard pool, use common sense and good judgment while you're cooling off this summer. More information about swimming safety is available at www.health.state.ny.us and www.uscgboating.org.