"Among children ages 1 to 4 years, most drownings occur in residential swimming pools," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Establishing specific pool rules and taking security measures, such as installing a gate with an alarm, can help prevent unnecessary deaths in a home swimming pool. Remember that fencing and flotation devices are not substitutes for appropriate adult supervision of children in a pool.
Pool Access
Do not grant children access to a pool unless an adult who can devote his full attention to the children's activities in the water will be present. According to the CDC, preschool children should not only be within a supervising adult's range of vision, but they should also be close enough that the supervising adult can easily reach them in an emergency. Adults should not engage in behavior that distracts them from their supervising duties, such as read a book, mow the lawn or talk on the phone, as distractions can quickly lead to accidents in a swimming pool.
Toys
The CDC does not recommend relying on air-filled toys or foam toys as flotation devices. If a child cannot swim, he should wear a life jacket at all times when in or around the pool. Pick up and put away all pool toys after spending time in the pool. Leaving toys near or around the pool could encourage a child to get close to the pool while he is not supervised. Toys left in a pool can entice a child to lean into the pool and fall.
Jumping
Do not allow children to jump into the pool until an adult is near or in the pool. Kids should only dive off a diving board, and only if a responsible adult says that the pool is deep enough to be safe. Ensure that children do not jump on other children or push others into the pool, says KidsHealth.org. Before a child jumps into the pool, she must always look to ensure no other child is underneath her or swimming into the path of her jumping.
Sun Protection
Children should always wear sunscreen when using a pool during the day. The Children, Youth and Women's Health Service states that sunscreen should be reapplied after one hour in a pool. Hats, shirts and sunglasses will also protect children from the sun's harmful rays while enjoying time at the pool.
Member Comments