Farm Pond Safety

Farm ponds are often found on Pennsylvania farms, and all have contributed to accidental drowning deaths. These water sources serve a variety of functions on the farm but can also pose dangers and liabilities. Most victims range in age from toddlers to young adults and sometimes are not residents of the farm where the incident occurred.

There are hidden dangers associated with farm ponds, including contamination by agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, livestock waste, and other pollutants, each of which poses specific health risks. If the water is cloudy, has a foul odor, or is covered with algae, it should not be used for swimming due to the potential presence of human infectious agents. Ponds used for swimming should be sampled by a certified laboratory for water quality every spring. Other dangers lurking beneath the surface of farm ponds include jagged rocks, broken bottles, animal bones, and other miscellaneous items common to farm ponds. Ponds that are out of sight of the home or barn are difficult to supervise.

Typically, drowning victims in farm ponds are young children under the age of four. Children with little or no swimming ability get too close to the water's edge, lose their balance on the soft earth, and drown in shallow water. Lack of close supervision, underestimating children's curiosity, and adults overestimating their child's sense of judgment all contribute to young children drowning in farm ponds. Even though a child verbally acknowledges a warning or word of caution, this does not mean they fully understand the hazard or risk posed by farm ponds. Children's short attention span, combined with the appeal of pond water as a play area, renders most verbal instructions ineffective. Children must be supervised at all times when they are near a pond or lagoon. In addition to supervision, provide your children with proper swimming instruction to reduce panic and help them swim to safety. Children can also wade into shallow water but fall into deep holes.

Data show that incidents most often occur when people use farm ponds for recreational swimming. Sharp drop-offs on the pond floor and leg cramps can be problematic even for experienced older swimmers. Multiple deaths have occurred when one person attempts to rescue an individual who is in trouble.

Reducing Hazards and Liability

Farm ponds are a vital part of many farm operations in Pennsylvania, but they can be hazardous and pose a liability risk. The following section explains ways to reduce these risks:

Signage

In general, it is recommended that all ponds and lagoons be fenced with an eight-foot, locked chain-link fence and posted signs (e.g., No Trespassing, No Swimming, etc.). Non-posted, non-fenced ponds increase the risk of a lawsuit if uninvited swimmers are injured or drown. Restrict entrance to your pond to keep out uninvited guests.

Physical Hazards

To make your farm pond safe for swimming, eliminate physical hazards in and around the pond. To improve accessibility to the pond, grade a section of the pond to create an easy-sloped entrance. The pond floor can be home to objects that can cause an injury to a swimmer. Drag the shallow areas of the pond floor to remove potentially dangerous objects. Sharp drop-off and the deeper parts of the pond should be marked to reduce the risk of a person stepping into an unexpected deep area. Better yet, rope off unsafe areas. When possible, use markers and signs to indicate the pond's depth at different locations.

Rescue Station

Every farm pond used for swimming should have a rescue post inserted firmly in the ground near the water's edge. Secure a length of nylon rope to the post long enough to reach across the pond. Attach one end of the rope to a buoy and the other end to a wood block. Then hang these on the rescue post. A gallon plastic milk jug containing a pint of water, or a small amount of sand, can also serve as a buoy. A thin, 12-14-foot pole should also be kept at the rescue post for assisting victims out of the pond. Emergency phone numbers attached to the rescue post can speed help along the way.

Pond Rules

As the property owner, you can establish rules and post them at your pond. One rule should be that individuals should never swim alone, even if they are expert swimmers. Landowners can require anyone who swims in their farm ponds to be trained in water rescue procedures and CPR, similar to those taught by the American Red Cross and other swimming instruction programs.

Winter Pond Safety Issues

Winter pond recreational activities such as sledding, ice skating, and fishing are enjoyed by many rural families in Pennsylvania. Remember that these fun winter activities are still pond-related activities and require additional precautions because ice is involved.

Always know the strength and thickness of the ice on the farm pond before doing any activity on the ice. Because ice is a complex formation, no ice is completely safe. Newly frozen ice is typically stronger than old ice. Ice that has thawed and refrozen can be weak and potentially dangerous. Temperature, precipitation (e.g., snow, sleet, rain), age of ice, water depth, and water quality are all factors that affect ice strength and thickness. Just because ice may be several inches to a foot or more thick does not guarantee its strength.

Before attempting to cross a frozen pond, conduct an inspection to determine the ice's thickness by drilling a hole through and chipping at the ice every 10 feet out from the shore. Examine the ice for thickness and color. High-density ice is present if the ice comes off in chunks when it is being chipped. Low density and deteriorating ice are present when the ice comes off in flakes or thin layers. Inspect the ice conditions every time you go onto the ice because condition, strength, and stability of ice can change quickly depending on the temperature, weather, and sunlight. Ice exposed to air temperatures above freezing (32°F) for 6 hours over a 24-hour period can rapidly lose strength and stability. The following table outlines the type of ice and its potential stability.

Table adapted from Graham, G. & Bean, T., 'Ice Safety', Factsheet AEX-392-03, The Ohio State University

Winter Pond Rescue

Winter drowning victims may fall through thin ice and may not be capable of pulling themselves to safety. If a person falls through the ice, the first step is to remain calm and not run to the hole, because you could quickly become a victim as well. Locate and recruit others to form a chain, slowly crawl toward the hole, and throw a flotation device to the victim. If a flotation device is not available, use anything with length, such as a rope, a ski pole, or tree limbs.

Once the person has been rescued, evaluate them for signs of cold-weather illnesses such as hypothermia and frostbite. Hypothermia occurs when a person's body temperature drops below their normal level (98.6°F). The body loses heat faster than it can produce it. The effect of hypothermia is dependent upon the victim's length of time in the water, water temperature, and their clothing. Common symptoms of hypothermia include shivering, blue-tinted skin, poor coordination, numbness, decreased dexterity, and confusion. Contact emergency medical responders immediately. While waiting for responders, get the victim into a shelter where they can gradually warm up. If a shelter is not available, protect the victim from the wind with whatever you have on hand (e.g., a sleeping bag, tree limbs, people, etc.). The victim can slowly drink warm non-alcoholic non-caffeinated beverages. If possible, remove the victim's wet clothes and wrap them in warm clothing, blankets, or sleeping bags.

Note

When caring for a hypothermia victim, never apply heat directly to the person's skin or rub or massage their skin.

Frostbite can occur even if you are not submerged in water. In this condition, a person's body tissue becomes frozen, restricting circulation to the affected areas. Typically, affected areas include the toes, feet, fingers, ears, cheeks, and nose. Superficial and deep frostbite are the most severe forms and require immediate medical attention. Signs of frostbite include waxy skin, numbness, skin that may be hard to touch, and possibly blistering. Frostbite can be extremely serious and lead to infections, blood clots, gangrene, and amputation. Follow the same treatment steps outlined for hypothermia. Additional treatment includes immersing frozen body parts in warm water (100°F) or warm compresses for 20 to 30 minutes, keeping the affected area elevated, and avoiding re-exposure to cold conditions.

References

• Bean, T. (n.d.) Farm Pond Safety. The Ohio State University Extension.