PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (BocaNewsNow.com) (Copyright © 2025 MetroDesk Media, LLC) — The Labor Day weekend is often a weekend where beaches are packed and pools are busy. The Palm Beach County Drowning Prevention Coalition is asking anyone heading to the water to take a moment and review safety tips. These are the suggestions shared with BocaNewsNow.com:
>> During the Labor Day holiday, the Drowning Prevention Coalition (DPC) of Palm Beach County encourages parents, caregivers, pool owners, boat operators and visitors to make drowning prevention a top priority. According to the Palm Beach County Medical Examiner’s Office, the county averages 50 drowning deaths per year, with children ages 1 to 4 having the highest drowning rates in the county based on population.
Don’t let a loved one become a statistic. Use the following water safety recommendations:
- Maintain vigilant adult supervision when children are in or near water.
- Never swim alone, regardless of swimming capability!
- Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision. “Water wings” or “floaties,” inflatable water rings and other pool toys are NOT safety devices. Only U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets are designed and tested for safety.
- Always swim at a lifeguarded beach and pay attention to beach flags.
- Wear a properly fitted U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when boating, paddleboarding, kayaking, or jet skiing, and it is highly recommended for those who are not strong swimmers to wear one.
- Never boat under the influence, file a float plan so someone on shore knows where you’re going and when you will return, be weather-wise, and carry more than one communication device that works when wet.
- Learn CPR.
- When at a party, designate a sober adult water watcher (using a distinguishable item such as a lanyard or funny hat) for 15-minute intervals. The water watcher’s sole responsibility is to walk around the pool and watch the area without distraction. After 15 minutes, give the distinguishable item to another adult for the next watch. <<
