03 Jun Pool Safety Guidelines

Summer is quickly approaching and school will be out soon enough. This means that kids will be filling the pools throughout the neighborhood and beginning their summer vacation. Having a pool can be a lot of fun for family and friends, but also very dangerous if the right precautions are not taken. According to the American Red Cross, over 200 young children drown in backyard swimming pools each year. Pool accidents can affect people of all ages. There are several steps that you can take to ensure that this summer is filled with good memories and accident free.

• Secure your pool with appropriate barriers..
• Keep children under active supervision at all times. Stay in arm’s reach of young kids. Designate a responsible person to watch the water when people are in the pool
• Never allow anyone to swim alone, no matter how experienced of a swimmer they are.
• Have your children wear a lifejacket that fits properly to their body.
• Keep your pool water clean and clear. Maintain proper chemical levels, circulation and filtration. .
• Establish and enforce rules to every swimmer in order to maintain a safe environment. For example establish rules such as “no diving,” “stay away from drain covers,” “swim with a buddy” and “no running.”
• Ensure at least one person in the household is CPR and First Aid certified in case of emergencies.
Accidents can happen in all areas of a swimming pool, not just in the deep end. Many drowning’s take place right before your eyes and you don’t even notice. It is very difficult to see through splashing water especially on a bright sunny day. If you have a pool and frequently have friends and family over consider getting an umbrella policy to protect you from accidents.

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