As summer approaches many are opening their pools for the promise of fun and relief from the summer heat. Children love pools just as much as anyone. Yet, the pool is not the safest place for a child. A child needs to be supervised to ensure his safety. Hundreds of children die annually of drowning in family pools. Help prevent this tragedy from happening to your family or to the families of those you host at your summer cook out.
IMPORTANT:
In the movies when someone is drowning there is a lot of splashing and noise. You need to know that is not reality. A child drowning is silent. My husband was in a friend’s pool and saved a child from drowning simply because he happened to notice the child go under. The pool was full of adults and children who were unaware anyone was in trouble.
Safety Tips:
Install a fence or barrier completely surrounding the pool. The fence or barrier should be 4 feet high at least and have no obvious ways such as handholds for a child to climb on.
Your vertical fence slats should not exceed 4 inches apart. You need to prevent a child from squeezing through.
You need to be sure that ladders leading to the pool are secured or locked. If possible simply remove them from the pool when not in use. However, it is important to note that a child may be able to move the ladder. My almost 3 year old was able to move the pool ladder to everyone’s shock. Thankfully, she was helping move it away and not in danger. Yet, she moved it without help with a bit of effort but not a struggle. You may be surprised what a child can do.
Pool alarms are available. The alarm has a motion detector that goes off if a child goes into the water alone.
A child should never be in the pool or near the pool without adult supervision.
Do not relay on flotation devices to keep your child afloat. Please do not leave a child in a pool even with a flotation device.
If a child all of a sudden is missing always check the pool first! Check the entire pool and pool area as soon as you notice a missing child.
During family get togethers and parties it is not uncommon for children to run around while the adults assume the child is with grandpa or a friend. It is easy for a child to go unnoticed for quite some time so always have an adult poolside to keep an eye on things even if the pool is not being used.