The weather is warming up and swimming is a fun way to cool off. But ensuring a safe environment is what makes for a happy one.
The following swimming pool safely tips to promote a fruitful, fun-filled summer:
lNever leave a child unattended in or near water. Always watch children when they’re in or near water, and never leave them unattended. Designate an adult tasked with supervising children in the water. That should be their only task – they shouldn’t be reading, texting or playing games on their phone. Have a phone close by at all times in case you need to call for help, and if a child is missing, check the Pool first.
lTeach children how to swim. Swimming is not only fun, it’s a lifesaving skill. Enroll children in swimming lessons.
lTeach children to stay away from drains. Do not play or swim near drains or suction outlets, especially in spas and shallow pools, and never enter a pool or hot tub that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover. Children’s hair, limbs, jewelry or bathing suits can get stuck in a drain or suction opening. When using a hot tub spa, be sure to locate the emergency vacuum shutoff before getting in the water.
lEnsure all Pools and spas - both in your backyard and any public swimming pool you may visit - have compliant drain covers. Virginia Graeme Baker, after whom the Pool and Spa Safety Act is named, died from drowning due to a suction entrapment from a faulty drain cover. All public pools and outdoor spas must have drain grates or covers that meet safety standards to avoid incidents like the one that took Graeme’s life.
lInstall proper barriers, covers and alarms on and around your whirlpool and spa. Proper fences, barriers, alarms and covers can be lifesaving devices. A fence of at least four feet in height should surround the pool or spa on all sides and should not be climbable for children. The water should only be accessible through a self-closing, self-latching gate. Teach children to never try to climb over the gate or fence.
lKnow how to perform CPR on children and adults. Often, bystanders are the first to aid a drowning victim, so learning CPR can help save a life. And once you’re CPR certified, make sure to keep your certification current.
