Summer Water Safety Around the Home

We are all drawn to water on hot summer days, especially children who often love to play with it. However, it's important to be aware of the hazards that come with using paddling pools and swimming pools during the summer months.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe:

• Never leave a child unsupervised in water. Drowning can occur in only a few centimetres of water.
• Empty the paddling pool as soon as your child is finished with it.
• Water in larger swimming or paddling pools needs to be treated to ensure it stays clean and healthy.
• Always keep water treatment chemicals out of reach of children and pets.
• Water can cool the body very quickly, so be aware of hypothermia.
• Sand pits and their lids can fill with rain water. Make sure these are emptied.
• Ponds, streams and even large puddles around the home pose a danger to children.
• Water butts and barrels also fill with water, so make sure they have lids that can't be opened by children or are covered with wire mesh.
• CPR is an invaluable, lifesaving skill and everyone should know how to do it. Visit www.irishheart.ie to find upcoming courses in your area.

To find water safety tips for outside of the home, visit www.watersafety.ie.

Keeping Dublin Safe

Dublin Fire Brigade provides a fully integrated fire, emergency ambulance and rescue service for the four Dublin local authorities. Keeping Dublin safe from fires and other emergencies is at the heart of our work.

Through safety programmes, education and advice, we aim to get communities involved in the prevention of fires and other emergencies. If you would like a fire officer to talk to your school, business or community, get in touch below.