Many of us love to swim, and so our children. When in a swimming pool, there are risks that may endanger our children. We would not want that to happen. Therefore, as parents, we must be equipped with knowledge on how to ensure the safety of our kids when they are in a swimming pool.
But, before we go deeper, I will give some facts why we really need to be aware of pool safety precautions. Worldwide one of the leading causes of unintentional injury-related deaths is drowning, noted by the World Health Organization. Among these drowning incidents, children with the age range of 1-4 years old and 5-9 years old have the highest drowning rates.
In the US, unintentional injury-related deaths among children aged 1-14 years old caused by drowning are the second leading cause. Meanwhile, in China, it is the leading one. Thus, to prevent our children from being exposed to such danger, we should always be cautious.
Safety Tips to Ensure Children Safety in a Pool
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Teach the children basic pool safety measures.
It is common knowledge for us parents to give safety instructions to our children when in a pool. However, I included this because we should never forget to do so. When our children are about to go to a pool, we should always remind them the following:
– Do not ever run around or near the pool.
– Never swim alone.
– No pushing when swimming with friends.
– Do not go to the deep part of the pool.
– Do not swim right after eating
– Always use a floater before swimming. (for those who don’t know how to swim)
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Always watch them.
We should always keep our eyes on them when they are near or in the pool. Even if we already teach them and there are lifeguards, we must keep them in check. We should always be attentive to ensure that nothing bad will happen.
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Be attentive.
When in swimming pool premises, we should put away or minimize distractions. Since accidents can happen in just a split of seconds, we should stop using our phones when attending to our kids in a pool. Cellular phones or other gadgets can keep us occupied and might make us forget our children who are in the pool. So, we must not use it, but it should always be handy. In case of emergency, we will need the device to ask for assistance.
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Consider a swimming lesson.
If we’re not confident with our swimming skills, we should consider a swimming lesson. It can help our children learn water survival and swimming skills such as floating. Through this, their safety when in water will increase. But it doesn’t mean that they are not prone to drowning anymore. It is just added protection for them. Our supervision or adults’ supervision is still the best way of ensuring their safety.
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Install fences or barriers around the pool.
If you have a residential pool, one of the best things you can do to keep your children away from it is installing fences that are high enough for them not to get over. Since not all the time, we can keep an eye on them. A pool safety fence is sturdy and cannot be broken down by children or animals. It is high enough that children will not be able to climb to get into the pool. The fence gate is secure, and children cannot open it to gain unsupervised access to the pool. This safety precaution is especially important for parents who have a hectic schedule. If you are wondering which companies you can rely on to get the fencing done, you may read the business news and reviews provided by companies such as The Danbury Review, which interview local businesses to provide you with valuable insight into their projects.
Aside from installing fences, you may need to clean the pool deck at regular intervals to prevent your children from slipping due to dirt and dust on the edges. In addition, if your area has been hit by a hurricane or strong winds, you can hire professionals from companies like AquaPro who can effectively pressure wash your pool deck. Pressure Washing may ensure that no dirt remains on the deck. It is simply the most efficient way to clean the exterior of your home since it takes less time than other traditional cleaning methods.
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Keep safety equipment accessible.
In case of emergency, always have safety equipment such as floaters, first-aid kits, and life jackets on your reach. Being prepared is always better than never. Additionally, if your swimming pool deck is old, you can get it remodeled by a professional service similar to California Pools to avoid any mishappenings. You can also employ other changes to your home pool to make it more secure for kids.
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Learn basic lifesaving skills.
We should always be ready in case of an emergency. So, we should at least learn how to perform CPR and first aid. It is a big help if you have these basic skills because you can always respond immediately rather than waiting for an emergency responder. You may also wish to take a look at these new AED machines for sale if you wanted to have an extra something in your home to give yourself peace of mind that, should something serious happen, you would have a way to help before the ambulance got to you.
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Do not make the home pool accessible anytime.
When we are not available to supervise our kids, we should have our pool area locked or inaccessible. If we let it open for our kids anytime, we might not notice them getting into the pool.
These pool safety tips all require adults or our supervision to reduce the risk of drowning. So, even if we did one thing or another, we should always be there for our kids.
