Pools are a fun and popular way to cool off and enjoy the hot days of summer. Many children love to splash around and jump into the water, but pools can be dangerous if proper safety precautions are not taken. According to Healthy Children, an adult must always be present to supervise children in the pool and an adult must also pay careful attention to potential dangers while children are swimming.
Drowning
Drowning is one of the most serious dangers associated with children and pools. Kids Health reports that a responsible adult must always supervise children when they are in the pool, and that children must never be left alone around a pool of any size or depth. Healthy Children strongly recommends the use of a pool fence to prevent children from getting to the water when an adult is not present. Children can be very clever and can get outside through an unlocked door, a window or a doggy door, and a locked pool fence can prevent drowning accidents. It is recommended that the pool fence be at least 4 feet high and be climb-resistant. Parents must take care not to put anything that can be climbed on, such as a lawn chair, near the fence to prevent a child from climbing over it. The slats on the fence must be spaced 4 inches or less apart to prevent a child from squeezing between them.
Injury
The potential for injury in and around a swimming pool is great when an adult is not supervising and has not ensured that the pool area is safe. Kids Health recommends establishing a set of rules for pool use that focus on preventing injury. When children begin playing, it is likely they will run. Running around the pool area is dangerous because children can slip and hit their head or fall into the water. A no-running rule is recommended by Kids Health as one way to prevent injury in and around the pool. Children must also be taught to keep their hands to themselves so no one gets pushed down or into the water. Kids Health also recommends that children learn the importance of leaving the water if lightning or other severe weather occurs to avoid injury. Parents are also encouraged to keep the pool area free of toys and other objects, and to always put all pool toys away and cover the pool or lock the gate when the kids get out.
Diving
Many pools have diving boards, which can be a fun way to use the pool if children have been taught proper diving technique and if the water is deep enough. According to Healthy Children, spinal cord injuries, permanent brain damage and death can occur if children dive into shallow water or if they hit the diving board rather than diving straight into the water. Parents are encouraged to make sure their child has been taught how to dive before allowing him to even get on the diving board. It is also important to check the depth of the water to ensure that the water is deep enough to prevent injury. Healthy Children also discourages children from diving into inflatable toys, such as rings, because this can cause diving accidents as well.
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