| The month of May is known also as "National Water Safety Month." With multiple bodies of water within our response area, as well as the large number of residential swimming pools, the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department wants to ensure all of our residents and visitors are as safe and educated as possible when it comes to swimming, boating and just being around one of Croton's great attractions.
On Wednesday of each week, please visit our Facebook page, www.facebook.com/crotonfire, to see our weekly "Water Safety Wednesday" posts. We will share invaluable information regarding child safety, boater safety, swimming safety and pool safety, as well as give you some insight on what equipment and resources we have to respond to these types of emergencies.
We encourage all of you to visit our Facebook page each Wednesday, and to not only read the information, but to share it as well.
Thank you, and here's to a "Water-Safe Summer!"
=========================================
WATER SAFETY WEDNESDAY: WEEK 1 - May 4, 2016
With the Summer approaching, pools will be opening soon and all of us will likely find ourselves in one sooner than later to cool off on a hot day.
The attached image (which can also be found at our website http://www.crotonfd.org/content/pool/) offers some simple safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe around the pool.
Earlier this week on the "Today Show," reported Jeffrey Rossen did a segment on pool and swimming safety. It featured some innovative and relatively inexpensive products to help keep children safe around pools. You can view that report by going here: http://www.today.com/…/rossen-reports-live-how-to-stay-safe…
Check with local Recreation Departments, such as the Village of Croton-on-Hudson or Town of Cortlandt, as well as some fitness clubs on the availability of swimming lessons for both the young and old.
Remember, pool safety is everyone's responsibility, so please keep it safe this Summer!
=========================================
WATER SAFETY WEDNESDAY: WEEK 2 - May 11, 2016
Today is our second installment of our "Water Safety Wednesday" series.
This week, we will focus on Boater Safety. As a simple rule, we encourage anyone operating a boat or personal watercraft to avoid consuming alcohol. In addition to it being illegal, it is incredibly unsafe.
We also encourage anyone that will operate or ride on a boat to take a Boater Safety course. You can find these online at www.uscgboating.org or by doing a web search for Boater Safety classes.
Lastly, this one little thing is often overlooked. If you are on a boat or personal watercraft - WEAR A PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (Vest)!!! If you're involved in a boating accident, you have a 1 in 11 chance of drowning without one, compared to a much better survival rate of 1 in 66 with one on. If you're worried about tan lines, don't be. We won't judge you.
Here's to a pleasant, sunshine-filled and safe boating season!
=========================================
WATER SAFETY WEDNESDAY: WEEK 3 - May 18, 2016
Today's subject: Swimmer Safety
As part of our ongoing Water Safety Month campaign, we take a look at Swimmer Safety this week.
From the American Red Cross
Swimming is a great recreational sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages. But it’s important to know how to be safe while you’re in the water. The American Red Cross offers these important swimming safety tips you should be aware of before you head out to the pool or beach:
• Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
• Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone.
• Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
• Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
• Maintain constant supervision.
• Make sure everyone in your family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and learn-to-swim courses.
• If you have a pool, secure it with appropriate barriers. Many children who drown in home pools were out of sight for less than five minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
• Avoid distractions when supervising children around water.
• If a child is missing, check the water first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
• Have appropriate equipment, such as reaching or throwing equipment, a cell phone, life jackets and a first aid kit.
• Know how and when to call 9-1-1 or the local emergency number.
• Enroll in Red Cross home pool safety, water safety, first aid and CPR/AED courses to learn how to prevent and respond to emergencies.
• Protect your skin. Limit the amount of direct sunlight you receive between 10:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. and wear sunscreen with a protection factor of at least 15.
• Drink plenty of water regularly, even if you’re not thirsty. Avoid drinks with alcohol or caffeine in them.
Additionally, for those of you that may go to the ocean this Summer, here's some information about staying safe at the beach;
Recreational swimming where trained life guards are on duty is generally very, very safe. Lifeguards pay careful attention to swimming conditions, they will stop someone from taking part in risky or dangerous activities, and if a a problem arises they take swift action to help a swimmer in distress.
Away from a protected beach area your safety is entirely in your own hands. My grandmother always told us "don't go out to far" but there are also other things to consider when swimming at an unprotected beach. Check out the conditions before you get into the water and be alert while you are swimming. Be aware that rip currents are a possibility and consider any other challenges you may face, such as a very rough high-tide or that it is end of a long day and you are tired. If your are uneasy about anything, don't go swimming. It is also not a good idea for an inexperienced swimmer to head to the beach and go swimming in the ocean alone.
Check out the attached links for more Swimmer Safety information. Like always, please feel free to share this information with anyone you know.
WWW.REDCROSS.ORG/PREPARE/DISASTER/WATER-SAFETY/SWIM-SAFETY
WWW.POOLSAFETY.GOV
WWW.RIPCURRENTS.NOAA.GOV
WWW.USLA.ORG
=========================================
WATER SAFETY WEDNESDAY: WEEK 4 - May 25, 2016
Today's subject: What the CFD Can Do For You
This week is our fourth and final part of our "Water Safety Wednesday" series here at Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department.
Did you know that many of our volunteers, in addition to firefighting training, have water rescue and ice rescue training?
Tasked with responding to emergencies in over 4 miles of the Hudson River, as well as all 3 miles of the Croton River, part of the Croton Reservoir and multiple ponds, streams, creeks, small lakes and other bodies of water in our first due area, our department has built up it's capabilities to handle just about anything that can happen in Croton's water ways.
Nearly 25 members have completed a Basic Water Rescue Technician course in the past five years, as well as another two dozen or more that have completed Ice Rescue Training. Additionally, those that are part of our Fire Boat Crew have completed additional US Coast Guard Boater Safety training as well.
The majority of our water and ice rescue equipment is kept on Rescue 18. This equipment includes ropes, cold water immersion suits, helmets, personal flotation devices and more to affect a water rescue either from land or within the water. Additional equipment is kept on Engine 119, Tower Ladder 44 and Utility 14.
Every apparatus - including our Chief's vehicles - have basic emergency equipment to assist someone in distress from shore. Currently all three Chiefs are also qualified Water Rescue Technicians.
Our boats - while similar in purpose - are each designed differently to handle different tasks.
Marine 12 - our primary vessel - is a 1993 Boston Whaler fiberglass 24' Fire Boat. It features a fiberglass deck/flooring, twin 225 HP outboard motors with a semi-enclosed pilot house and a Hale 250 GPM fire pump. It's primary role is to respond to fire, rescue & service incidents in the Hudson River, during the usual boating season. It is stationed at the Croton Yacht Club during Spring/Summer/Fall, usually from March until November.
Marine 32 - our newest vessel - is a Mercury 430HD Heavy-Duty Inflatable 14' Rescue Boat, featuring an aluminum deck/floor and a 25HP outboard motor, featuring a "short-shaft" design to help navigate the often shallow Croton River. It is kept on a trailer at Station #3 and can be towed by R18, U14 or any of our three Command Vehicles.
Marine 52 is our most versatile boat, as it is an inflatable Zodiac, measuring 12' long. It has no motor and is used in remote areas and where motorized vessels aren't usable. It is either stored, inflated, with M32 or is deflated and kept on R18. It can be inflated easily using a one-hour SCBA bottle, which we keep on R18 or E119.
The Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department is proud of our assets - both the equipment we have and the trained members we have to use it. We are always looking for new members to join our department, and invite you to check us out at www.crotonfd.org.
We hope that the information we have shared with you this month has been helpful, and hope that everyone has a safe Summer! |
