Pool safety

A swimming pool can be a very hazardous place for young children, especially if they can’t swim well, so pool safety is a vital part of keeping your children out of harm’s way. If you have a pool, here are some vital pool safety tips that you should remember and carry out:

• ALWAYS have adult supervision when children are around the pool or able to get access to the pool
• Don’t leave any toys in the swimming pool or pool area after playing, as kids might be tempted to go fetch the toys
• Install a safety fence with a self closing, self locking gate to ensure no unwanted access to the pool, you could even install an alarm on the gate so you know if your child is trying to get into the pool area
• Learn CPR so you can treat a pool safety related emergency, in addition make sure you have rescue and first aid equipment located near to the pool
• Teach your tot to swim or at the very least how to float unassisted
• Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that an adult is within an arm’s length of the child at all times
• Don’t use lilo’s and other air filled toys as a substitute for life safety vests
• Make sure the gate is closed and secured after a swimming session
• Don’t leave chairs, tables or anything else close to the pool fence as children could use these to scale the fence and endanger their safety
• Make sure you don’t designate the pool area as a ‘play area’ make it clear it’s only for safe swimming
• If you can’t find your child, always check the pool immediately, seconds count when it comes to pool safety
• If you leave the pool or water area, even for a moment, take the children with you

Although it’s not always a pleasant thing to think about, pool safety should be something that’s always on your mind, especially during the summer months when trips to the pool are common.