As a parent, you're constantly worrying about something happening to your kids.
Safety should always be the first thing on a parent's mind, but you can't always be watching.
From trampoline accidents to epic fights between siblings, it can sometimes seem like your kids are trying to give you a heart attack.
What measures do you put in place to make sure your kids stay safe during playtime? When even chocolate eggs can put them at risk, where do you draw the line?
Even letting them loose to play in the great outdoors can be risky, as one family in Van, Texas, learned after their toddler had a close encounter with a disused well on their property.
Now, the local fire department is begging all parents to scan their properties for old wells, which can be damaged and very dangerous for unsuspecting children or pets.
The world is a better place when we band together as communities to help spread awareness about child safety. Scroll through to learn more about the dangers of wells.
Thumbnail Photo: Facebook: City of Van Fire Department
The City Fire Department in Van, Texas, posted an alarming PSA on their Facebook page recently.
The post, which got tons of reactions and comments, detailed the events of a recent rescue call the department received that week.
Apparently, the department received a call after a 3-year-old boy fell into an old well on his family's property.
The well had a flimsy covering, and when the child climbed on top of it, the structure caved in. The little boy plummeted 30 feet down into a pool of murky water!
Luckily, the boy's grandfather was nearby at the time of the accident, and he was able to jump into the well and courageously rescue the young boy.
The fire department reports that both the boy and the grandfather were found safe on arrival.
Thank goodness they're both OK, because the little boy's tumble could have easily ended in tragedy.
The post went on to urge people not to judge the actions of the boy's parents, but rather, to take this unfortunate incident as a reminder to secure wells on your property.
Even a dry well can present a major danger for children and pets.
The fire department also offered some tips if something like this does happen.
The Van Fire Department notes, "Covered wells aren't necessarily safe wells."
This is a solid takeaway from the scary incident with the little boy in Van, Texas. The well on that family's property was indeed covered, which would lead most people to believe their children would be safe from harm, but that's not necessarily the case.
Van FD continued:
Please don’t attempt self rescue. Throw them a floatation device, or a rope to secure them, but let those trained actually retrieve them.
I know this will be hard, but bad air, crumbling walls, and the inability to get out only compounds the difficulty for the rescuers if you add another victim.
Van Fire has high angle rescue equipment and trained rope rescue technicians, as do some of our mutual aid partners.
They conclude:
We have discovered open wells in the woods and fields while fighting grass fires, inside outbuildings at structure fires, backyards, and everywhere else. Please take time to secure those on your property.
We are pleased that this unfortunate call was resolved without injury.
If you live in an area where most people get their water from wells, be sure to check your property, and urge your friends and neighbors to check theirs too!
The story of the little boy from Van is a lesson to us all.
We can't always foresee every danger our children may come in contact with, but the more we know, the better we can prepare for situations that could put children in harm's way.
Please SHARE this article to warn your friends with kids about the dangers of wells.
