6 Kids Swimming Pool Safety Tips
Following is a guest post from Kaitlin Gardner, Blogger at An Apple Per Day. In this post, Kaitlin talks about most relevant topic of the coming season, Kids and Pool Safety. So, let’s sit back and learn all about it! Find Author’s full bio at the end.
6 Kids Swimming Pool Safety Tips
One of the joys of having a family is watching the changes as they grow. When the kids start having fun in the pool, it’s a wonderful experience. When you see them go from being thrilled at making a splash, to confidently swimming the length of the pool, happens seemingly overnight. But as the kids grow, safety in the water must be a concern, so here are 6 tips for swimming pool safety:
1) Have rules for safe pool behaviour
If a child gets in the habit of running along the side of the pool to get to the diving board, it’s a setup for a slip on the wet decking, which could cause a painful injury. That is the reason for pool rules like “no running.” If those rules are emphasized early and often, the kids will lessen their chances of getting hurt around the pool.
2) Constant supervision.
To provide a safe pool environment, a good habit is to make supervision a constant when the kids are in the water. If the kids have it clearly established that they only swim when Mom or Dad are present, it provides greater safety for them. Here are some great resources about swimming safety for kids:
3) Have a pool fence.
Since kids are sometimes prone to disregard the direction of parents, do have a fence around the pool area. That fence should be at least 4 feet high, and have a gate on it with a locking mechanism and an audible alarm which sounds if access is attempted. This will keep the kids from being tempted to have a swim when they should not. Make sure the fence has no foot or handholds which could be climbed. Make sure the fence is flush to the ground, and if you have pets, make sure none of them has dug a hole under the fence, which would allow access for a small child.
4) Drain safety.
As kids get older and more proficient at swimming, they will begin to explore the pool. If a swimsuit or a leg is pulled into the drain because of the suction, it could lead to serious injury or death. Instruct your kids not to get near the pool drains. In addition, make sure the pool has drains with a safety vacuum release system, which will turn off the suction if a blockage is detected. Check the drain by swimming down and putting a towel up against it, to make sure it functions properly.
5) Safety with the chemicals.
Make sure that chemicals used to treat the water in the pool are stored safely. Don’t just put them on a shelf in the garage, because they’re not properly secured. Also, those chemicals will have to be taken to the back yard before each use, which might mean walking through the house with those chemicals. Buy a small shed (some thing like this one) that can be stored in one corner of the back yard, and which can be securely locked. Make sure the person who adds the chemicals is properly trained in their use, because improper use of those chemicals could be harmful to the children.
6) Swimming lessons.
Enrolling children in formal swimming lessons can greatly reduce the chances of a dangerous accident while in the water. It is suggested that around 4 years of age is the proper time to begin a child on swimming lessons. Watch the confidence of your kids grow around the pool as they are able to safely move around in the water.
With good safety practices, you can provide your children with a safe pool, a positive environment for them to learn how much fun the water can be, and smile as you watch them at play in your family pool.
Author Bio
Kaitlin Gardner started AnApplePerDay.com to further her passion for a family friendly, green living lifestyle. She is married to her best friend and lives in Pennsylvania. In her spare time, she loves to go hiking, biking and enjoy nature. She just started her first book about living an eco-friendly, healthy, natural lifestyle.
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