Staying Safe Around the Water

June’s here and we’re diving deeper into summer. The Harrison County fire marshal says this is the season where more water-related emergency situations tend to happen. News 25’s Gina Tomlinson has some tips on how to stay safe.
“A little girl had a seizure in the water. Nobody knew what was happening, looked like she was just playing like the rest of the kids.” Austin Warden has been coming to the swimming spot off of Three Rivers Road in Gulfport since he was a young kid. What he witnessed a couple years ago could have been deadly, if his uncle didn’t know what to do before an emergency responder came to save a child who almost drowned. “She couldn’t control her breathing. She sucked in water and my uncle did CPR until she got here.”
Harrison County Fire Marshal Pat Sullivan tells News 25 it isn’t unheard of for this popular water-hole to claim the lives of those who might have been just looking to cool off from the heat. “In the past year, we’ve had a number of drownings. In fact, we’ve had multiple drownings at the same time at this location.”
Sullivan wants us to be aware of what we can do to make sure we’re safe, whether we’re in the water or just by it. He recommends using the buddy system, always having someone in the group who knows CPR and using a flotation device or a life vest if you’re not a great swimmer. “Know the area you’re swimming in, know what the hazards are. It’s the difference between life and death. We are surrounded by water,” said Sullivan.
Sullivan tells News 25 it is important that we know the proper safety precautions because of where we live, because not knowing them could mean our life. “You have to get that reaction in that moment or a life can be lost,” said Warden.