May 22nd, 2009 •
Related •
Filed Under
Swimming pool safety can make the difference between pool fun and tragedy.
For children between 1 to 14, drowning is the second-most common cause of accidental death. Safe Kids USA, a child safety advocacy group, reports that 280 children under 5 years old drown every year in swimming pools across the country.
The Pool Safety Council, a nonprofit organization, offered this advice for owners and operators of public and private pools to make sure everyone has a fun and safe time at the pool this summer:
Nothing is more important to the safety of a swimming child than the eyes of attentive parents. There will be a time when you can sit and read a book while your kids are in the water, but not when they are young.
Keep a landline phone near the pool, so that if there is an emergency you can call 911 and the operator will be able to instantly trace the call and send help.
Surround your pool with four-sided fencing and a gate that locks.
Never leave children unattended in or near the pool. Drowning takes only a few seconds.
Even when there is a group of adults present, make sure one is dedicated to keeping an eye on any children in or near the pool. Giving one person that responsibility makes it far more likely potential problems are noticed right away. If you are hosting a party with lots of children, you could consider hiring a lifeguard for a few hours.
Make sure your pool is outfitted with approved safety drain covers and an anti-entrapment device to prevent a swimmer from becoming trapped by a pool drain’s suction. Public pools are required to adopt anti-entrapment measures, but the Pool Safety Council encourages private pool owners to follow suit.
Take a CPR class to ensure potential drowning victims do not have to wait for paramedics to arrive.
When not in use, keep hot tubs covered and locked.
To learn more: The Pool Safety Council’s Web site is poolsafetycouncil.org.
Pingback by Memorial Day musings from Such A Smart Mom | suchasmartmom.com on 28 May 2009:
[...] And, finally, to mark the unofficial start of summer, I’ve written a quick story with tips from the Pool Safety Council for swimming pool safety. [...]