Water Safety In the home Most drownings occur because of a lapse in adult supervision of a child. It only takes a few seconds for a child to drown. The most frequent cause of pediatric drownings is an unattended child near water (river, lake or unlocked/unsecured pool).  Although swimming pools are where most drownings occur, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue reminds you that caution must also be exercised near 5-gallon buckets*, hot tubs, backyard fountains and bathtubs. * Most parents assume that a 5-gallon bucket filled with water is harmless. However, young children can fall head-first into the bucket and not be able to pull themselves back out! Safety Tips Secure your backyard pool w/ appropriate fencing and self-latching gates or security devices. Cover your hot-tub with a locking safety device. Always supervise children involved in water play.  If you must leave the area, have children get out of the pool, hot-tub, or bathtub until you return. Keep chairs, tables and other items which can be used to climb, away from pool fences or hot-tubs. Avoid alcohol and drugs. Mount flotation devices near the pool. Learn CPR in case of an emergency. Rivers and Lakes Summer is a great time to enjoy local waterways. However, rivers and lakes can be deadly if safety is not a priority. Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue recommends the following safety tips: Use the buddy system - never swim alone. • Avoid alcohol and drugs. • Watch for the dangerous "toos" - too tired, too cold, too far from safety, too much sun, too much activity. Take frequent breaks. • Always supervise children. • Young children should wear a Coast Guard-approved life jacket (pillow and handle-type); Adults should have or wear an approved life jacket when boating or fishing • Know your swimming limits. Keep an eye on weaker swimmers. • Don't dive in shallow water or in unfamiliar areas. • Have a cell phone in case of an emergency. • Learn CPR! If You See or Hear Someone in Trouble Call 911 immediately - time is of the essence. Try to throw the victim a flotation device but don't become a victim yourself. Use landmarks to determine where you last saw the victim and where you are standing so you can take rescue crews back to the site. Take notice of the victim's clothing. Encourage other bystanders to stay on the scene. Water Rescue Team For almost 20 years, Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue has responded to water-related incidents. Utilizing firefighters trained as divers and shore support, the team has been instrumental in helping victims of boating accidents, assisting individuals threatened by floodwaters, and retrieving stolen property for local law enforcement agencies. Several years ago, an automatic aid agreement was developed between Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue and Clackamas County fire and law enforcement agencies.The agreement ensures 24-hour a day response to water incidents and maximizes each of the different department's capabilities, equipment, and training. To Learn CPR Tualatin Valley Fire & Rescue offers public CPR classes each month.  The cost is $5 per person and classes include how to perform proper cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and recognizing the signs and symptoms of a heart attack.