Pool Safety Tips for Parents

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In today’s guest post, Alex Robbins from Safety Today shares top pool safety tips for parents and resources to keep your kids safe this summer. 

As the weather gets warmer, families everywhere will be looking for ways to keep their cool while still having fun outside. If your plans for summer fun include adding a pool to your backyard, you could be on the right track. Before you start having fun in that pool with your kids, however, you need to read through these essential pool and water safety resources.

Make Sure Your Pool Is Secure

Allowing kids to have unsupervised access to even a small amount of water can be dangerous, so take these steps to keep your swimming pool safe and your kids protected.

• Most areas require you to put a safety barrier around your pool, so make sure you know what sort of fence or barrier will keep your children safe.
• You can also install a weatherproof lock on your gate to keep other kids in the neighborhood from accessing and accidentally falling into your pool.
• In addition to safety barriers, you may want to invest in a pool alarm.
• Also ensure that your pool is properly maintained, and repaired if necessary before you allow your children to swim in it.

Teach your Kids How to Swim

Swimming is a basic skill every child should learn, but it is especially important if you plan on having a pool in your yard. Here are some tips for safely teaching your kids how to swim:

• First, understand that swimming can be a fun family hobby despite any potential risks, so try to keep lessons fun and stress-free for your little ones.
• You can adjust swimming lessons by age to ensure your kids get the maximum benefits.
• Using fun games can also be helpful when teaching your kids how to swim.
• You should also consider signing your kids up for swim lessons to enhance their skills.

Talk to Your Kids About Pool Safety

Once your kids know how to swim, they can safely play in your pool when you are there to supervise. Still, it never hurts to teach your kids some basic pool safety rules.

• Know that accidental drowning is a leading cause of death and serious injury among children, so teaching kids about pool safety is absolutely critical.
• You can use the Red Cross’s pool safety tips to create rules for your family and to talk to your children about water safety.
• Posting pool rules is a great way to keep them on everyone’s mind while swimming.
• Also, make sure that any babysitters or care providers are aware of pool safety rules.

Know How to Respond to Emergencies

Even with barriers and rules in place, accidents can happen in and around your pool. That’s why you should use these tips to be prepared for pool emergencies:

• Keep a life preserver ring near your pool at all times and make sure this ring is attached to a sturdy and strong rope.
• You should also keep a first-aid kit handy so you can treat scrapes and bruises.
• Responding safely to drownings could be key for keeping your family safe, so make sure all adults and children know what to do in case of an emergency.
• Also, learn how to properly perform CPR and consider teaching this to older children.

 

Other Family Safety Posts You May Like: What You Need In a Family Emergency Kit

A pool can be the perfect summer retreat for your family but owning a pool can also come with some risks. Make sure you are aware of these risks and how to reduce them for your children so that you can focus on having fun and escaping the summer heat.

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