Mock Child Drowning Drill To Prepare Rescuers For Real Thing

PINELLAS PARK, FL -- The Pinellas Park Fire Department will host and participate in a mock pediatric drowning training drill at Skyview Pool that will help provide valuable life-saving training not only to firefighters and paramedics but also City of Pinellas Park lifeguard staff.

The mock drowning will begin with staff at Skyview Pool, 9040 54th Way N., Pinellas Park, calling 911 and beginning rescue efforts. From there the Pinellas Park Fire Department will respond and continue CPR and medical treatment. Next Sunstar ambulance will arrive to transport the "child" to Northside Hospital where hospital staff will continue life-saving efforts.

May is National Drowning Prevention Month and Pinellas Park firefighters and paramedics want to ensure they are in sync with the City of Pinellas Park lifeguards, Sunstar and Northside Hospital to efficiently rescue and treat a pediatric patient during a drowning.

Calls like this are the leading cause of death in children ages 1 to 4.

The drill will be repeated with different staff on May 22, 23 and 24.