Swimming Pool Safety
Swimming pool safety is important to review often. Our pools are a great way to keep your family entertained year-round, but with it comes the responsibility of making sure it is safe. Pool safety measures are important for everyone, not only those with children in the household. Accidents can happen in minutes when someone’s not paying attention. If you have kids it’s even more important to make sure that your pool is safe and that your children can’t access it without proper supervision. For those without children, proper pool safety is still important as neighborhood kids could wander in or a friend with children visiting could result in a tragedy.
Facts about Drownings
Accidental drowning for children is not talked about enough in the United States. They happen faster than parents realize, and turning your back for a few minutes is more than enough time for an accident to occur. In children aged 1 to 4, drowning is the leading cause of injury death and is the third leading cause of accidental injury death in children ages 5 to 19. Young children in particular drown quietly; they don’t splash or scream, like you see in the movies. Typically, they tilt their head back and attempt to float, if you see a child doing this they may be in need of help. The majority of the time drownings occur in a residential pool while an adult was “watching.” This is why additional safety measures are so important.
Always watch children while in the pool
The number one thing in swimming pool safety is to always monitor children while they are swimming. This means actively watching your children; you shouldn’t be on your phone, having drinks, or anything else that will be distracting. If you have several families over it’s advisable to have 15-minute sections where one parent is responsible for watching the children. In group settings it’s more common to assume that someone is watching and accidents can happen even while several adults are present.
Learn CPR
Learning CPR should be required for anyone who will be supervising children, especially around water. If a child ever is in distress while in the pool, knowing how to properly perform CPR, while waiting for medical professionals to arrive can be the difference between life and death. It’s worth investing the time and money to learn the proper ways to resuscitate a child should the need ever arise.
Limiting access to the pool
Aside from watching children while in the pool the next most important safety feature is limiting access to the pool. Pools are fun for children and they may not fully recognize the dangers they present. Curious kids may try to find their way into the pool while you’re not looking, and the only way to prevent this from happening is to limit access to the pool. There are several options on how to do this but swimming pool safety fences are typically the best option for people who use their pools frequently as they are easy to use and reliable.
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Pool covers
Pool covers can be a great way to prevent access to the pool while not in use. The downside to these covers is that they have to be removed and reinstalled after each use. Ladders or anything else protruding from the pool must also be removed in order to create a tight seal. Although these can be effective, they require more work to use.
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Swimming Pool safety fences
Swimming Pool safety fences create a barrier to your pool while allowing you the ease of use when desired. Rather than having to remove a cover every time, you simply have to open the gate and make sure to close it when you’re done. These are typically the most convenient pool barriers for families, as they allow frequent use with minimal effort.
Unfortunately, accidental drownings happen more frequently than parents are aware. It’s important to take this into consideration if you have a pool in your backyard. The number one thing to do is always monitor your children while they are in the pool and prevent access to the pool when you can’t. By taking these precautions you can have the benefits of a pool without the risks.