Spending time during the summer in a swimming pool is exciting and fun. However, swimming pools also mean being aware of safety tips for everyone that uses the pool. If you already have a swimming pool in your backyard or if you are thinking about having one built, it is essential that you know facts and tips to keep your family and friends safe.
Sadly, the majority of people who drown in swimming pools are children. However, an interesting statistic is that as much as 75% of child drowning happens when a child is being supervised by at least one adult who was out of sight for not more than five minutes. This just goes to show how quickly a child can get into trouble, which is why all swimming pools should have locked fences around them and children swimming should be supervised every minute.
To keep your children or any person safe from a swimming pool drowning, you can follow a few simple steps. First, even adults should never swim alone. Sometimes, a person will get severe cramping in which they cannot swim. Other times, someone will jump off the diving board or side of the pool, only to hit the head, being knocked unconscious. In both situations, drowning is possible. If you have your child with you and someone comes to the door, ignore it or take the child with you inside.
In addition, we recommend you have your child take professional swimming lessons, especially if the child is three years and up. The instructor should be certified and skilled in working with smaller children in that they need a little different instruction than an older child or adult. You also need to set strict rules for pool time. This means no running around the pool, no horseplay, no dunking, and holding each other under the water, using water toys appropriately, and for children of certain ages, wearing approved flotation devices.
Make sure all the pool rules are clearly posted and that anyone, regards of age, is aware of what they are. If someone does not follow the rules you put in place, they lose their pool privilege. For adults, alcohol and swimming are a dangerous combination. Therefore, if you want to serve drinks, make sure everyone is done swimming and the pool is shut down. Finally, every pool owner needs to know first aid and CPR just in case it should ever be needed. Although you will probably never need to use these skills, visit your local Red Cross to become certified. By following these tips, you and your family will enjoy better peace of mind so swimming time can be fun and worry free.