Gilbert Guppy: Your Safer Response Expert
Hello Everyone!
I am Gilbert Guppy and I am here to talk to you about Safer Response. As you’ve already heard from my buddy Sammy the Starfish, you know that it is impossible to eliminate all the dangers in the water, so what do you do if the unexpected does happen?
Before you go swimming, it is vitally important to have a water safety response plan in place. Some important steps for a water safety plan include:
- Knowing how to call 911
- Having a phone by the pool
- Knowing the address and phone number of the pool
- Being able to explain the nature of the emergency
- Identifying adults that children can go to for help
- Knowing equipment that could be used to throw in as flotation devices or extend to reach the person and pull them in
- Practicing and knowing how to take immediate action – seconds count!
Don’t forget: Reach or Throw, Don’t Go. Let Someone Know! This is behavior that anyone can practice for a safer response if there is an emergency in the water. Emphasis that you should find help first. You can help the person in trouble by finding a long stick, noodle, rope or shepherds hook, lay on your stomach and try to reach for them so that you can safely pull them to safety, or throw any sort of water flotation device to them to grab on. It is important that you do not try jumping in to help the person in the water. Even if you can swim! Rescues should be left to people trained in water to do so.
It is never too late to learn lifesaving water safety skills. Please follow the link below to the American Red Cross to find opportunities to take classes on things like CPR and first aid.
The American Red Cross: redcross.org
Thank you for taking the time to talk with me about Safer Response!
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