There’s nothing like a swim in the pool on a hot summer day. We’ve had record breaking heat this summer, so it’s no surprise that people are running to the nearest pool to cool off. While refreshing and fun, swimming can be dangerous if you don’t follow safety precautions (or are too young to understand them for that matter). Whether you are visiting a pool or you have one at your own home, it is really important that you are vigilant about safety. Remember, ten people die everyday from an unintentional drowning in the United States alone (ww.cdc.gov). How can we work together to be sure that the pool you visit is safe?
To start, you can follow these pool safety precautions:
- Make sure all children are supervised by an adult at all times. A leading reason many drownings and accidents occur is because the supervising adult was momentarily distracted by a phone or food on the stove.
- Teach children basic water safety tips and how to swim.
- Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.
- Make sure the pool is fenced and secured with a latched gate that cannot be reached by a small child.
- Make sure all adult care givers who supervise your pool know CPR; this includes grandparents and babysitters.
- Make sure all pool supervisors know the safety rules and what to do in an emergency.
- Make sure emergency contact numbers are available.
- Keep a phone at poolside if possible. If not, ignore any calls if it means that children will be left unsupervised.
- Remove toys from the pool when not in use. Many drownings result from a child reaching for a toy floating enticingly just beyond grasp.
- Make sure that safety equipment is kept by the pool and kept visible and accessible (Shepard’s hook, rope, safety ring).
- If a child is missing, look around the pool first. 69 percent of drowning victims were not expected to be in or around the pool when they were found in the water.
Take note: When swimming in a commercial pool, are they up to date with the Pool and Spa Safety Act? In honor of Virginia Graeme Baker, check that any pool you swim in has a compliant safe drain that will not cause injury to swimmers.
Watch the video below to see what a safe drain looks like, so you can check for yourself the next time you visit your community pool:
Here’s a recap of today’s blog post: Teach your child the basic water safety tipsand how to swim. Check pools for safe drains that are up to code with the Pool and Spa Safety Act. Be alert and watch your children when visiting the swimming pool. Follow safety precautions to make sure your summer memories are the best and happiest they can be.
