The warm weather is here, and there’s no better way to stay cool and comfortable than with a nice dip in the swimming pool! However, safety must always come first so before school was out, Suffolk Legislator Tom Donnelly met with students at Birchwood Intermediate School in Melville to discuss pool safety tips and honor those who participated in Suffolk County’s 2018 “Be Pool Smart” poster contest. Established in 2007, the annual competition invites elementary school students to promote the importance of pool safety and prevent accidental drownings by creating a poster illustrating safety tips.
Joining Legislator Donnelly in honoring third-grade students Julia Montilla, Bianca Ruiz and Ariana Sosa, who each received Suffolk County Certificates of Distinguished Achievement, was their Principal Mr. Anthony Ciccarelli, teachers Ms. Caitlin Bishop and Ms. Katherine Dueñas and their classmates.
Some of the safety tips that Legislator Donnelly discussed with the students included:
Always swim with a buddy;
Never push or jump on others;
Always remove toys from the pool, which can be very tempting to young children;
Never leave children of any age alone in or near the water;
Children can drown in just a few inches of water so be sure to empty the pool cover;
Keep a first aid kit stocked and available near the pool;
Know how to dial 9-1-1 and how to get help in an emergency;
Learn to swim!
In the “Be Pool Smart” poster contest, one entry is selected from all of those submitted Countywide to be used as a part of a seasonal safety campaign from the Suffolk County Department of Health Services. Students from schools in South Huntington, Half Hollow Hills, Deer Park and North Babylon School Districts were invited to participate in this year’s District 17 preliminary competition.
“It was clear that the students had given great thought into the importance of pool safety and I appreciated their enthusiasm in sharing their personal experiences and some of their own safety tips,” said Legislator Donnelly. “This, combined with the information provided by the Suffolk County Department of Health Services, should go a long way in making it a great and safe summer season for all.”