Summer has arrived and people are heading to the local swimming pools to cool off. While this seems like a great idea to keep cool when temperatures are climbing, care must be taken to ensure everyone remains safe. Sadly, individuals lose their lives every day in swimming pools. For those lucky enough to survive, permanent damage may occur.
Children Are at Higher Risk
Parents especially need to take care when they bring young children around water. Drowning remains the number one preventable cause of death for children between the ages of one and four. These children drown in swimming pools, hot tubs, open bodies of water, or a bucket of water in the home. Swimming lessons help to prevent drowning, but moms and dads must remain vigilant. Unfortunately, parents may do everything they need to and still lose a child to drowning. When this is the case, contact the law boss for help. What steps should be taken to reduce this risk?
Barriers
Local and state codes typically require a barrier around swimming pools. The requirements for the barrier depend on the locality, but most places require a fence that is a minimum of four feet tall. In addition, this barrier must include a gate that closes automatically and latches. If someone leaves the pool and forgets to shut the gate or latch it, there is no worry that a young child will get inside and access the pool without supervision. This likewise ensures others cannot access the pool without the necessary supervision either.
Pool Alarms
Many property owners choose to install a pool alarm to prevent unauthorized access to the pool. A variety of alarms are available today, allowing the property owner to find the one that best meets their needs. Options include in-ground swimming pool alarms, wireless voice alarms, and floating wave sensor in-pool alarms. Consider all options and reevaluate the alarm yearly to make certain it continues to meet your needs.
Adult Supervision
Never allow children in the pool without adult supervision. Children often believe they are better swimmers than they truly are and run into trouble as a result. In addition, children may become tired and not be able to reach the side when they are in the deep end simply because they played too long and wore themselves out. Having an adult present ensures the child can be helped immediately if a problem does arise.
Swim With a Buddy
However, children aren’t the only ones who can run into trouble while in a pool. For this reason, people should never swim alone. Always have another person present to provide assistance if the worst does happen. While it may seem relaxing to go for a swim while everyone else is sleeping, doing so is dangerous. The same is true when nobody else is home, so always swim with another adult present.
Check the Water
When a child cannot be found, check the swimming pool first. If all safety measures have been put into place, the odds of the child being in the pool are greatly reduced. However, every second counts when a child is in the water, and the few seconds it takes to check the pool may be enough to prevent the child’s death or permanent disability. Drowning happens in an instant, and it is silent. Take the time to look in the pool first for peace of mind.
Reduce the risk of a loved one drowning by following these simple guidelines. Although accidents can and do happen, parents must do everything possible to protect their child. Pool safety tips are of great help in achieving this goal.