Swimming in the pool is the best part of summer, and as it draws to an end, more and more people might want to get in their last dip of the year. However, having a pool on your property or taking little ones to the public pool comes with a huge responsibility. Parents always have to be on their toes to look after their toddlers or tweens. However, only looking after your kids is not enough. There are some safety rules that every parent should know about to prevent any unfortunate accidents in the pool.
Never leave your kids unsupervised while they are swimming
Supervision is key when it comes to pool safety. So, parents, always ensure you have some responsible adult to look after the kids so they can take action quickly if needed. If you have no one to look after your child, and you are the only one supervising them, make sure to get them out of the pool and away from it if you are going back into the house for some work, even if you are stepping in only for a minute.
Also, ensure you or the person monitoring the kids don’t doze off or get distracted by phones or laptops while looking after them. Drowning can happen in seconds; hence, being vigilant is paramount. You don’t have to leave the phone at home. Keep it within your reach to call for help in case of an emergency. However, if you must make or take an urgent call or reply to an email, ensure someone else is watching over your child. Overall, never leave your little ones, be they toddlers or tweens, unattended while they are swimming.
Teach your kids to swim
If your child is old enough to learn swimming, enroll them in swimming lessons. This way, you and your kiddo feel more confident underwater. Moreover, when you teach or enroll them in classes, they learn basic lifesaving skills, too.
Don’t always rely on floater devices
Floaters help the nonswimmers to enjoy water without the fear of drowning. However, you should never rely on them completely. Tubes, floaties, noodles, or any other floating device are pool toys and can lead to accidents if the child mistakenly removes them, takes the air out, or simply slips out of them. Hence, make sure small children and nonswimmers always wear a well-fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket when near water and while swimming. This is an important pool safety rule that every parent must abide by.
Learn CPR to save lives
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) is an essential lifesaving skill, and learning it is a vital pool safety rule that every parent should know. You can use it in case of accidental drowning to save a soul, whether it be a child or an adult. Hence, ensure you learn CPR from professionals in case of unfortunate accidents.
Make sure to check drains and suction covers
Drain and suction covers can be dangerous, especially for small children. Hence, it is crucial to occasionally check drains and suction covers for damage or malfunction and ensure they comply with safety standards. You can even call in experts for proper checking. Also, teach your kids to stay away from drains and never play with them to avoid any accidents.
Use fences, covers, and alarms for safety reasons
No matter how big, small, or shallow your pool is, make sure it has a fence around it with a self-closing, locked gate. For additional safety, you can even add door and window alarms that chime when opened to alert a parent that a child is going outside. Even having pool alarms is a good idea to keep everyone vigilant. If you can’t add a fence around the pool, be sure it is securely covered when not in use.
Pool safety should be non-negotiable when it comes to protecting kids. Hence, parents should follow these pool safety rules to ensure children can have a happy swim time every time.
