Swimming Pool Safety Guide for Children
Practice Proper Safety Precautions in the Water
May 30, 2009
Drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional death in children. And according to National Safe Kids USA, as many as 20 percent of near-drowning survivors suffer severe, permanent neurological disability. Learn how to keep summer fun and protect your child from drowning with these swimming pool safety tips.
Provide Constant Adult Supervision in the Swimming Pool Area
A drowning can happen in the blink of an eye, so even if kids are strong swimmers, they require constant supervision in and around swimming pools. Don’t get distracted by engaging in poolside chats with friends, talking on the phone, or thumbing through magazines while kids are splashing in the pool. And keep a working telephone in the swimming pool area just in case of an emergency.
Since children under the age of five are more likely to drown in swimming pools, supervising adults should be within arms-reach of them at all times. This way, if a child accidentally slips underwater, he can be immediately pulled to safety. Also, adults who are responsible for the supervision of kids at the pool should not drink alcohol or take drugs, as these substances impair judgment and reaction time.
Enforce Pool Safety Rules for Kids
Before kids are allowed to step foot near a pool, go over some basic rules with them about proper safety precautions in the water. Children are notorious for wrestling, and chasing their friends around the pool, but water and horseplay can be a deadly combination. Also, kids should never be allowed to ride bikes, scooters, big wheels, or skates around the pool. One slip is all it takes for a child to fall and hit his head on the concrete or drown.
Secure Swimming Pools When They’re Not Being Used
A self-closing, self-latching gate that opens outward and a fence should surround the perimeter of the pool. The gate and fence need to be at least four-feet high and checked frequently for holes, weak-spots, and wear and tear. Pool covers should be used in addition to gates, not as substitutes. And don’t leave anything that kids might be tempted to climb on near the swimming pool gate.
Ensure Kids Wear Life Jackets in the Swimming Pool
All youngsters in who get in the pool should wear life jackets as a safety precaution. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns not to “use air-filled or foam toys, such as ‘water wings’, ‘noodles’, or inner-tubes, in place of life jackets (personal flotation devices). These toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe.”
In addition to enforcing pool safety rules, supervising properly ,and providing life jackets for children to wear when they're in the water, there should be an adult who knows cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) present at all times.
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