Safety Pool Guide: 5 Tips on Keeping the Pool Safe For Kids
Parents will do anything to get their children out of harm’s way, and that’s the way it should be. Still, “harm” can take in various forms and faces. It could be a pet, a burglar, an uncovered hole in the backyard, or a swimming pool.
Yes, in fact, drowning is the primary cause of unintentional death for children between the ages of 1 to 4. On average, around 390 deaths annually are attributed to drowning incidents at a swimming pool or spa. It’s sad and unfortunate, but the truth is, drowning is almost 100% avoidable if safety precautions are taken seriously and followed to the letter.
5 Tips on Pool Safety
Always Have an Adult Nearby
Even if your child is a good swimmer and knows every inch of your pool like the palm of his hand, this is no guarantee that he will always be safe. Accidents happen in an instant.
One way to make sure that mishaps don’t happen is to supervise your children. If you have to leave and attend to something for a few minutes, make it a point to have adult supervision at all times. If there is no other adult in the area, take the kids with you.
Go Crazy on Fences, Nets, and Barricades
The phrase ‘we can never be too careful’ applies here. When it comes to the safety of our kids, that’s certainly the case. That’s why it is highly recommended to install several layers of protection because there is no such thing as a baby-proof swimming pool.
Install fences, barriers, nets, and other forms of barricades around the pool. There is no federal law on mandatory pool-fencing, but several states took matters into their own hands and created their own state laws. When installing latches, be sure that it’s located where children couldn’t reach them. Most importantly, unless you are trained to do it yourself, have the pool fence installed by a professional like the fence company Round Rock.
Set the Rules
Pool accidents do not only involve drowning. Anyone, especially children, could slip or get tripped up, bump their heads, and hurt themselves. This is where setting rules come in. Always inculcate the “No Running” and “No Pushing” rule in the pool’s vicinity. Also, be an excellent example to your kids and not mess around yourself. Remember that what adults do, children will most likely follow.
Teach the Kids How to Swim
While you’re at it, this tip right here is hitting three birds with a single stone. Taking the kids to swimming classes (or teaching them yourself) not only serves as a protection against drowning but is a perfect bonding moment. Additionally, swimming is a great way to exercise and keep fit. What’s not to like?
Clean Your Pool
Cleaning the swimming pool should always be a part of maintenance work, but what does it have to do with safety? As we all know, kids are usually distracted by colorful, floating objects (such as leaves) and may try to reach said objects, consequently falling into the pool. To prevent this from happening, use a skimmer to take away fallen leaves and twigs off the pool’s surface.
Regular cleaning also ensures that your pool won’t be a breeding ground for bacteria. Most people and that probably includes you, are too busy to manually clean the pool for a couple of hours. A recommended product is a robotic pool cleaner like the Dolphin E10. It may be on the more expensive side of the spectrum, but the pros just outweigh the cons here with its bevy of cutting-edge features.
Another important reminder for parents is to monitor the kids’ sensitivity to chlorine. Chlorine is a chemical used to sanitize the pool, but children may develop sensitivity to it. If you see signs that your child may have a chlorine allergy, such as chest tightness or skin scaling, please seek medical assistance immediately.
Signs That A Child May Be Drowning
Drowning incidents happen in a flash, and in a matter of seconds, things could escalate pretty quickly. Many people think it’s easy to spot someone drowning, but unlike the endless splashing and spattering that we see in movies, it often goes unnoticed before it’s too late.
Here are some signs of drowning:
When a child’s mouth is submerged and briefly goes back up, he or she may be drowning. Remember that someone in this predicament could not call out for help because he/she is trying his/her best to breathe.
A drowning kid could not kick out and will probably stay upright. If you see your child doing that, get him out of the water immediately.
Kids are the noisiest creatures ever. As parents, we all know the deal. That means if they are not making any of that child-related commotion, there is something seriously wrong going on.
Drowning kids may either have eyes that are unfocused or wide shut. In the case of girls with long hair, the hair has a tendency to cover the eyes.
If you see that a kid is trying to climb an imaginary ladder, he is most likely in a fight for his life.
Bottom Line
As parents, we all want the best for our children, so for us to be in a position to do that, we have to keep them safe and sound. Pool accidents can always be prevented using a combination of know-how and preparedness. Remember, drowning incidents happen in a flash and often as quick as 20 seconds. If we are responsible enough to cover all the bases mentioned above, we won’t have to deal with the painful experience of losing a child to a completely avoidable accident.
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