Children & Pool Safety
A study conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to find out how child drowning incidents occur indicates that SUPERVISION CAN AND DOES FAIL. THERE CAN BE NO COMPROMISE ON POOL SAFETY. YOU ARE DEALING, LITERALLY, WITH A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION.
Parents and caregivers may let their guard down when they have a pool at their home. For many children, water is like a mouse to a mousetrap - one wrong move can result in disastrous consequences. Prevention and close supervision of young children is vital for families with a home pool at all times, not just when outside using the pool. A child's natural curiosity may have them leave the house without a parent or caregiver realizing it. Unfortunately, just because children know how to swim, doesn’t mean they are safe. All children should be supervised every second while in and around the pool.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission offers these additional tips to prevent drowning:
Consider installing a 4 foot fence and/or wall with a self-closing and self-latching gate all around the pool. You must ensure that the latch should be out of a small child’s reach. Children are creative so keep furniture that could be used for climbing into the pool area away from the perimeter.
For areas that have doors leading straight to the pool area that are not fenced off, insall an alarm that sounds when the door is opened.
Another option is a power safety cover (a motor-powered barrier) that can be placed over the water area when the pool is not in use.
Be prepared in case of a fall or accident and keep rescue equipment by the pool. Take a first aid class so you know cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).
Always keep a phone handy in case of an emergency.
Children love toys and floats and may be prone to get in the pool or too close to the edge, so don’t leave pool toys and floats in the pool or pool area that may attract young children to the water.
If you have an above-ground pools, be sure to secure and lock steps and ladders to the pool, or better yet removed if possible, when the pool is not in use.
If a child is missing, always look in the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability.
Pool alarms can be a valuable tool to alert you if the water is stirred too much. Have the alarm in the house in an area where it can easily heard in most areas of the home. Alarms that have the SSTM standard are recommended.
Children can also become trapped in a drain or cover from their hair, swim suit or other loose items. Have a professional inspect the drain suction fittings and covers on your pool and spa to ensure they meet current safety standards and are sized appropriately.
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