{"id":22493,"date":"2025-06-27T11:24:23","date_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:24:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/?p=22493"},"modified":"2025-06-27T11:24:31","modified_gmt":"2025-06-27T15:24:31","slug":"rhhd-shares-drowning-prevention-tips","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/2025\/06\/27\/rhhd-shares-drowning-prevention-tips\/","title":{"rendered":"RHHD Shares Drowning Prevention Tips, Health Officials Urge Parents and Care Givers to Take Precautions"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>RICHMOND, Va.<\/b> \u2013 In<b>\u00a0<\/b>Virginia, nearly 500 people have accidentally drowned over the last five years. In fact, drowning is a <u><a id=\"OWAb38a89db-2417-b007-6073-ddfa83fb4ec5\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/drowning\/data-research\/facts\/index.html\" href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/drowning\/data-research\/facts\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">leading cause of death<\/a><\/u> in children. Whether you are enjoying summer activities at the pool, the beach, the river or the lake, Richmond and Henrico Health Districts (RHHD) offers drowning prevention tips to keep you healthy and safe while swimming.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cFollowing drowning prevention tips can help keep you and your family safe while swimming, boating, and enjoying other water activities this summer,\u201d said Richmond and Henrico Health Districts Director Elaine Perry, M.D.\u00a0 &#8220;Unlike what we see in movies and television, drowning often occurs quickly and silently and doesn\u2019t usually involve thrashing and shouting. The <u><a id=\"OWA95747697-0879-4411-fbc7-9c6ddd74452d\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/draft-drowning-prevention\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/draft-drowning-prevention\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">signs of drowning<\/a><\/u> are more subtle. A person may only struggle to stay above water for 20-60 seconds before going under.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>RHHD offers these drowning preventions tips:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Active Supervision: <\/b>Never leave a child alone near a pool\/spa, bathtub, toilet, or standing body of water. When supervising children who are near the water, adults should be free from distractions.<\/li>\n<li><b>Swim Lessons:<\/b> Teach children basic swimming and water safety skills. Swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning. Children, even those who\u2019ve had <u><a id=\"OWAc302a799-ecf0-762a-31eb-ef0f29eb3d94\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.redcross.org\/take-a-class\/swimming\" href=\"https:\/\/www.redcross.org\/take-a-class\/swimming\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">swimming lessons<\/a><\/u>, still need close and constant supervision in or around water.<\/li>\n<li><b>Learn CPR:<\/b> <u><a id=\"OWAea1df150-8207-25e6-9d9f-ba2152de1095\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/learn-lifesaving-skills\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/learn-lifesaving-skills\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">Bystander-initiated CPR<\/a><\/u> can make the difference in someone\u2019s life while waiting for paramedics to arrive.<\/li>\n<li><b>Approved Safety Devices:<\/b> Floaties, water wings, pool noodles and inner tubes are toys. These air-filled or foam toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe. Only use U.S. Coast Guard-approved <u><a id=\"OWA7676d9c0-e5f3-6fbe-d801-0b56877458cc\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/life-jackets-and-floaties\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/life-jackets-and-floaties\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">life jackets<\/a><\/u>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Barriers and Alarms<\/strong>: Install <u><a id=\"OWAde265140-dcad-37cf-41f7-f8b05e802955\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/pool-safety-features\/\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/environmental-health\/environmental-health-services\/swim-healthy\/pool-safety-features\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">barriers and alarms<\/a><\/u> to prevent children from gaining access to a pool or open water unsupervised.<\/li>\n<li><b>Avoid Swimming After Dark: <\/b>Swimming after dark makes it hard to see if someone is drowning.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure to listen to any directions from the lifeguard and follow all advisories. But remember a lifeguard does not replace the need for active supervision of any children in and around the water.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Stay vigilant this summer. Let&#8217;s make our pools and beaches safer for everyone! Visit <u><a id=\"OWA43b44da2-1733-3253-167f-10fd06e4a75b\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"http:\/\/www.swimhealthyva.com\/\" href=\"http:\/\/www.swimhealthyva.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">swimhealthyva.com<\/a><\/u> for more information.<\/p>\n<p>For more health and safety information, follow RHHD on Instagram at <u><a id=\"OWA1b1522e4-a5d4-47b4-91ea-a9b8fdfc235f\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/richmondcity_hd\" href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/richmondcity_hd\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">@richmondcity_hd<\/a><\/u> and on <u><a id=\"OWA49e43585-7917-2a28-c6d3-9ae55191dff2\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RichmondHenricoHealthDistricts\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RichmondHenricoHealthDistricts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">Facebook<\/a><\/u><u><a id=\"OWA49e43585-7917-2a28-c6d3-9ae55191dff2\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RichmondHenricoHealthDistricts\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/RichmondHenricoHealthDistricts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">,<\/a><\/u> visit <u><a id=\"OWA7abfa3c9-d769-3d22-8dff-6156ff1cd73e\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"https:\/\/rhhd.gov\/\" href=\"https:\/\/rhhd.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">rhhd.gov<\/a><\/u>, and sign up for RHHD\u2019s monthly newsletter at<b> <\/b><u><a id=\"OWA4498ae76-0df0-3657-748a-988ff405c095\" class=\"x_Hyperlink x_SCXW183969765 x_BCX0 x_OWAAutoLink\" title=\"http:\/\/rhhd.gov\/news\" href=\"http:\/\/rhhd.gov\/news\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" data-auth=\"NotApplicable\">rhhd.gov\/news<\/a><\/u><b>.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>RICHMOND, Va. \u2013 In\u00a0Virginia, nearly 500 people have accidentally drowned over the last five years. In fact, drowning is a leading cause of death in children. Whether you are enjoying [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":383,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[22,1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-22493","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-pr","category-uncategorized"],"modified_by":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>RHHD Shares Drowning Prevention Tips, Health Officials Urge Parents and Care Givers to Take Precautions - Richmond City Health Department<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/richmond-city\/2025\/06\/27\/rhhd-shares-drowning-prevention-tips\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"RHHD Shares Drowning Prevention Tips, Health Officials Urge Parents and Care Givers to Take Precautions - Richmond City Health Department\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"RICHMOND, Va. \u2013 In\u00a0Virginia, nearly 500 people have accidentally drowned over the last five years. 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