A great way to enjoy a hot summer day and cool off is in a pool. However, whether you have a pool or are swimming in a public pool, it is important to know and follow pool safety rules. Pools can be a dangerous place, especially to children, if safety rules are not followed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on average 10 people die each day from unintentional drowning. Most importantly, children should be supervised at all times around a pool. The statistics show that two out of those 10 people are children under the age of 14. Here are a list of some important rules to follow for pool safety that you and those around you should be aware of.
- Supervise children while accessing pool areas.
- Use floatation devices and keep children within arm’s reach if they cannot swim.
- Teach your child to swim when developmentally appropriate.
- Take swimming classes.
- Make sure others using your pool or are under your supervision can swim.
- Keep toys away from the pool area.
- Have a gate around your pool and keep it locked.
- Keep all doors and windows that lead to pool area locked and if possible install an alarm.
- Learn to dive properly and have your children taught too.
- No diving in shallow water. Know how deep your pool is or the water you are swimming in before attempting to dive.
- Learn CPR.
- No running near the pool.
- If you are swimming in a public pool, check for lifeguards on duty.
For more pool safety information and for the sources, click here:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Swimming-Pool-Safety.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIr7SszeqJ4gIVD9RkCh1E8g3VEAAYBCAAEgIGcfD_BwE
https://www.cdc.gov/homeandrecreationalsafety/water-safety/waterinjuries-factsheet.html