This past weekend, 4 June 2016, Southmont Fire Department participated in Alcoa’s Annual kickoff the summer event. This year the event for High Rock Lake was held at the Buddle Creek lake access on Holloway Church Road. Firefighters; Daniel Cox, James Monroe, Jenny Monroe, Brad Needham and Deputy Chief Larry Morgan and Junior Firefighter Janson Broyles gave out fire prevention literature and showed the Rescue Engine and Fire Boat to 62 visitors. Alcoa personnel gave out a number of free life jackets again this year. Other agencies that participated in this years event were Healing Springs Fire Department, North Carolina Wildlife, The Coastguard Auxiliary and The Davidson County Rescue Squad. There was also a special visit from Batman.
This event is held annually in order to raise awareness about safety when visiting the lake and is an effort to prevent drowning while having fun at the lake. The American Red Cross makes the following recommendation when spending time in and around water:
- Swim in designated areas supervised by lifeguards.
- Always swim with a buddy; do not allow anyone to swim alone. Even at a public pool or a lifeguarded beach, use the buddy system!
- Ensure that everyone in the family learns to swim well. Enroll in age-appropriate Red Cross water orientation and Learn-to-Swim courses.
- Never leave a young child unattended near water and do not trust a child’s life to another child; teach children to always ask permission to go near water.
- Have young children or inexperienced swimmers wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water, but do not rely on life jackets alone.
- Establish rules for your family and enforce them without fail. For example, set limits based on each person’s ability, do not let anyone play around drains and suction fittings, and do not allow swimmers to hyperventilate before swimming under water or have breath-holding contests.
- Even if you do not plan on swimming, be cautious around natural bodies of water including ocean shoreline, rivers and lakes. Cold temperatures, currents and underwater hazards can make a fall into these bodies of water dangerous.
- If you go boating, wear a life jacket! Most boating fatalities occur from drowning.
- Avoid alcohol use. Alcohol impairs judgment, balance and coordination; affects swimming and diving skills; and reduces the body’s ability to stay warm.
