Tips For Pool Safety

By Avanti Vadivelu
 
There are few things better than dipping into a refreshing pool of cool water on a hot summer day. Now that May is here, those hot days will be here faster than we can say “floaties”. Every year about 43,000 people are injured in and around swimming pools and more than 600 people drown in home or public pools, according to Insurance Information Institute. Even more scary, www.liveandlearn.com reports that 300 children under age 5 die each year from pool deaths.
 
As always, MyHealthGate.com has your back with some of our top tips on how to keep yourself --as well as your loved ones-- safe in the pool.
 

1. Never leave young children unsupervised. Even for a moment.
2. Pay special attention to where the pool’s suction is and keep children far away from this area. Suctions can grip a child with such force that they are unable to reach the surface.
3. Ensure that a proper fence is around your pool to keep uninvited guests from taking a dip, thus reducing risks to other and liability.
4. Never allow anyone to swim alone.
5. Routinely survey the pool and its surrounding areas for broken glass, glass that could get broken, electrical devices, or any other dangerous item.
6. Steer clear of the pool during rain or lightning storms.
7. Never allow people consuming alcohol to enter the pool.
8. Be aware of the pool’s depth before jumping in.
9. If you are the one in charge of supervising children in a pool, make sure you are trained in CPR (or, ensure that whoever is supervising is trained in CPR).
10. Ensure that children younger than the age of 5 are at one arm’s length of a responsible adult who knows how to swim at all times in the pool.
11. Keep rescue equipment at hand.
12. Know that “floaties” and other air-filled swim aids for children are not a proper substitute for life preservers.
13. A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) may add to the protection of your children, but should be used as an alternative for other safety measures that need to be taken.
14. Understand that even if all pool users know how to swim, accidents can still occur. Be alert for all dangers at all times.
15. Set strict guidelines as who is allowed to be in the pool at what times.

 
Sources: Insurance Information Institute
              American Academy of Pediatrics
 
Of course, no set of guidelines can prevent all accidents resulting from pools. So the most important thing to keep in mind is to keep alert and to educate your loved ones on the dangers of using pools. Most of these guidelines should also be used for hot tub safety as well. By taking the proper precautions you and your family could and should take advantage of the cool, wet summer sport of taking a dip in that refreshing pool!