All it takes is 30 seconds for someone to lose their life underwater, more specifically children. This, from Lifeguard Allister Livingston who is attached to the Water Safety Education Department of the Ministry of National Security’s Lifeguard Services.
Speaking on the NOW Morning Show about water safety, Mr. Livingston said many are of the belief that once a pool isn’t filled to capacity, they can leave their children unsupervised in the water. Just recently a seven year old boy and a three- year old girl drowned in separate incidents. Mr. Livingston said supervision at all times is necessary even for smaller pools. He said precautions for larger pools should also be taken, especially for those with ladders.
Mr. Livingston said the use of toys in a pool also encourages smaller children to try to retrieve them from the water. He said parents and guardians should be no more than an arm’s length away from their children when they are in a pool.