Water Safety Tips

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children under the age of 4. The following are some safety tips for all parents and pool owners:

• Provide adult supervision 100 percent of the time. Never leave a child alone in the pool area - not for ANY reason - not for ANY length of time.
• Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around swimming pools and the need for constant supervision.
• Most children who drown in backyard pools gain access from the house. If your pool is not fenced off from the house, install child-resistant locks at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) above the floor on all doors leading to water.
• Completely fence the pool. Install self-closing and self-latching gates. Position latches out of reach of young children. Keep all doors and windows leading to the pool area secure to prevent small children from getting to the pool. Effective barriers and locks are necessary preventive measures, but there is no substitute for supervision.
• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.
• Do not consider young children "drown proof" because they have had swimming lessons; young children should always be watched carefully while swimming.
• Remove ladders and steps from aboveground pools. No objects should be in the aboveground pool area for a child to climb on and into the water.
• Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from climbing into the pool area.
• Keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water.
• Make sure you keep glass clear from the swimming pool area. If glass happens to break, people in the pool can get injured.
• Encourage sobriety from your guest when entertaining near the pool.
• Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere. Keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone.
• Check the pool first if a child is missing.
• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
• Keep rescue equipment by the pool.
• Keep the following safety equipment at the poolside: non-metal reaching pole; throwing line with buoyant aid; first aid kit; telephone with posted emergency numbers, your address, and phone number.
• Don't dive head first into shallow water or water that you are unsure of the depth.
• Separate the deep and shallow ends with a floating safety line.
• Store all pool chemicals under lock and key.
• Consider installing a pool alarm.
• Investigate installing a spa/pool safety cover.
• Check to ensure that spa and pool covers pass minimum safety requirements set by the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM).
• Never have the spa/pool cover partially in place since children may become entrapped under it.
• Beware of a free-floating spa/pool cover. A child can slip beneath one unnoticed.
• Inspect safety and pool/spa equipment regularly. Preventative devices are only effective if they are in working order.