• Manatee: pool safety a family habit

As published in today’s Bradenton Herald, Florida Safe Pools Representative and All Children’s Hospital Suncoast Safe Kids Coalition Coordinator Jean Shoemaker visited public safety and health officials in Manatee County as part of its water safety campaign kick-off.

Shoemaker met with Chief Ron Koper of Manatee County Emergency Medical Services, Hospital, Capt. Larry Leinhauser of Manatee Public Safety and Dr. Jennifer Bencie, Manatee County Health Department director to discuss strategies for keeping young children safe around Manatee’s 27,000 residential swimming pools. The “layers of protection” model focuses on safeguards to prevent accidental drownings via four areas: inside the house, outside, the pool area, and by the parents themselves.

The mission of Florida Safe Pools is to increase safety of all backyard pools in Florida by providing information to implement barriers, alarms, and proper supervision of the pool area.

PHOTO by Richard Dymond, Bradenton.com