Covina Man Nearly Drowns in Pool

By Patch Staff 

With reports of recent near-drownings in nearby cities, authorities are reminding residents to follow water safety tips.

A Covina man as discovered floating unconscious in a pool by family members, according to a report by Covina Police. Officers responded to the call in the 800 block of North Reeder Avenue Sunday.

While performing CPR on the man, the victim began breathing again. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment, according to the police report.

On the same day, a 7-year-old boy was discovered unresponsive in a pool in West Covina. The boy regained consciousness shortly after family members performed CPR, according to a story in the San Gabriel Valley Tribune.

With the summer season in full swing and residents resorting to pools and beaches to cool off, Los Angeles County Department, which serves Glendora, released the following tips to keep loved ones safe from the risk of drowning.

Drowning Prevention Tips 

Never take your eyes off a child when he or she is in or near any body of water, even for a second.

Don’t rely solely on barriers, such as fences or walls near a pool or spa. There is no substitute for constant supervision.

Keep toys, tricycles, and other children’s playthings out of the water and away from the pool or spa. Don’t consider your children to be “drown-proof” because you enrolled them in swimming or “water-proofing” classes.

Don’t rely on inflatable devices to keep your child afloat. These are not substitutes for adult supervision.

Make sure your pool or spa has a fence, wall or safety cover that guards against unsupervised access, particularly by young children.

Make sure doors leading to the pool or spa area are self-closing and self-latching, or are equipped with exit alarms and are never propped open.

Always drain standing (surface) water from the pool cover. Remember that even a few inches of water can be hazardous, especially to young children.
Install a phone, or keep a cordless phone, in the pool or spa area.

Beach and Water Safety 

If a child or adult is in trouble in a pool:
1. Don’t panic; yell for help. 
2. Get the child/adult out of the pool immediately. 
3. Call 9-1-1 immediately for emergency medical services. 
4. If you’re trained, begin CPR if necessary. 
5. If you’re not trained in CPR, follow telephone instructions from the Fire Department until they arrive to assist you. 

For more water safety tips, click here.