Safety Tips Around Swimming Pools

By Author: Steve Merillat
Total Articles: 14
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Child Supervision Around Swimming Pool

All caretakers of children: parents, grandparents, baby-sitters, older siblings, etc., must be instructed to watch children constantly.

Children are naturally curious and must be supervised at all times when in and around all bodies of water, including pools and spas. The NSPSC says: "Drowning is a silent accident; rarely is there a cry for help or a splash, yet it is preventable. Never take your eyes off a child when he/she is in or near any body of water, even for a second."

At no time should you leave your child unattended in or around any water environment (pool, stream, tub, toilet, bucket of water), no matter what skills your child has acquired and no matter how shallow the water.

Don't rely on substitutes: The use of flotation devices and inflatable toys cannot replace parental supervision. Such devices could suddenly shift position, lose air or slip out from underneath, leaving the child in a dangerous situation.

Encourage safe practices: Don't assume young children will use good judgment and caution around the water. Children must be constantly ...
... reminded to walk slowly in the pool area and only to enter the water with you.

Diving Safety

One of the best pool safety features of all is a properly installed, quality diving board. Last year there were more than one billion dives from diving boards at residential in-ground swimming pools, and none resulted in serious accident or injury when pools met the ANSI/NSPI-5 Standard . This safety record has been ongoing for a number of years.

The presence of a diving board lets everyone know immediately that a deep water area exists, and that is where all diving should be conducted. Diving in shallow water, less than six feet deep can be dangerous. A diving board directs children and adults away from shallow areas that are unsafe for diving, keeping diving to the deep end of the pool, where diving is safe and fun.

Safe diving follows these common sense rules:

# Dive only from the end of a diving board and not from the sides.
# Know the water depth and plan your dive path.
# Always make a shallow, controlled dive, holding your head and arms up, back arched and steering with your hands.
# Don't run and dive.
# Do not dive into shallow water.
# Always make a shallow dive holding your head and arms up, and steering with your hands.
# Make sure there are no submerged obstacles or surface objects in the dive path.
# Never dive from the side of an in-ground pool.
# Never drink or use drugs and dive.

In Case of a Swimming Pool Emergency

Remember CHECK-CALL-CARE:
If you come upon a person in an emergency, CHECK the scene to ensure it's safe and CHECK the victim, CALL 9-1-1 or your local emergency number, and CARE for the person until help arrives.
Take an American Red Cross CPR and first aid class.
Keep a phone by the pool.
Knowing these skills can be important around the water and you will expand your capabilities in providing care for your child.

Kids Safety

Safety & You:
Splashing, wading, and paddling - it must mean a great day in the water. Playing at the beach, at a water park, by a lake, or in a pool can be a real treat on a hot day. Swimming is a lot of fun, but drowning is a real danger. Let's find out how to stay safe in the water.

Why Is It Important to Be Safe in the Water?:
Fish are able to live and breathe under water, but people need air to breathe. People drown when too much water gets into their lungs. When that happens, the lungs can't carry enough oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body.

Drowning is the second most common cause of death from injuries among kids under the age of 14. Drowning can happen fast - sometimes in less than 2 minutes after a person's head goes under the water. That leaves very little time for someone to help.

Many drownings and near drownings occur when a kid accidentally falls into a swimming pool. But accidents can happen anywhere - at someone's home or even at your own house, and that's why you need to know how to be safe around water.

Swimming Pools:
Pools are awesome! What could be better than a dip in the pool and fun in the sun? But remember a pool's sides and bottom are usually made of concrete, a rock-hard material. A slip or fall could be painful and dangerous.

Have you seen those big numbers painted on the side of the pool? Those are called depth markers - they tell you how deep the water is at that point. You should always look before you jump into a pool. You should also only dive off the diving board. Never dive off the side of the pool unless an adult says that the water is deep enough. The water may be shallower than you think. If you hit the bottom . . . ouch! You might get knocked out or you could hurt your neck very badly.

Test the pool's water temperature before you plunge in. Cold water can shock your body and make your blood pressure and heart rate go up. You might accidentally open your mouth to yell and accidentally breathe in some water. Cold water can also slow your muscles, making it hard to swim.

Here's some other good advice for the pool:

* Always have an adult watch you when you are in the pool - even in your own backyard. Never go in the pool if there is not an adult around.
* Gates are around pools for a reason - to keep kids away from the water when there isn't a lifeguard or adult around to watch them. Never go through any pool gates when they are closed. Stay safe and stay out!
* Always obey pool rules.
* Swim with a buddy.
* If you're learning to swim, ask your mom or dad to make sure your flotation devices are Coast Guard approved.
* Walk slowly in the pool area. Don't run.
* Swim at a depth that is safe for you. If you're just learning to swim, stay in the shallow end.
* Don't push or jump on others. You could accidentally hurt someone or yourself.
* Toys to help you float come in many shapes and sizes (an inner tube, air mattress, or beach ball, for example). Although they are fun and can help you while you learn to swim, they can't save a life. These toys can lose air or float away.
* Don't chew gum or eat while you swim - you could choke.

Lakes and Ponds:
Lots of kids swim in streams, lakes, or ponds. Extra care must be taken when swimming in these beautiful places. You can't always see the bottom of the lake or pond, so you don't always know the depth of the water. This is another reason to always swim with an adult. Although the fish swimming around won't hurt you, some ponds and lakes may hide jagged rocks, broken bottles, or trash. Wear something to protect your feet. Also, watch out for weeds and grass, which can trap even a good swimmer. If you panic and try to yank yourself free, you may get even more tangled. Instead, shake and pull your arms and legs slowly to work your-self loose or call for an adult's help.

If you're going out on a boat, always wear a life jacket. (Again, the life jacket should be Coast Guard approved.) Even if you are a good swimmer, something could cause the boat to tip over and you could be trapped underneath.

Beaches:
It's hard to resist a day on the beach, but you'll need to know some safety rules when you're swimming in the ocean. When you first get to the beach, check with the lifeguard to find out how strong the waves are. Some places fly flags or write notes on a chalkboard to give swimmers an idea of what conditions are like.

In some places swimmers may encounter strong undertows or ocean currents. Rip currents are so strong that they can carry swimmers away from shore before they know what's happening. If you are caught in a current, swim parallel to the shore (alongside the shore) rather than to the shore until the water stops pulling you, then swim back to shore. If you can't get back to the beach, tread water and wave for a lifeguard's help.

You probably won't see any sharks (although a friendly dolphin may splash by) where you are swimming. But you might run into some jellyfish or Portuguese man-of-wars. These umbrella-shaped, nearly clear animals can grow to be as large as several feet in diameter! They are often found floating near the shore. Getting stung is no fun - it can hurt and blister your skin. If you get stung, tell an adult as soon as possible.

Here are some other good water safety tips:

* Learn to swim. Ask your parents to contact your local American Red Cross or community center for information on boating or water safety courses.
* Always apply plenty of sunscreen before you go outside. It's also a good idea to wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your skin from ? the sun's harmful rays.
* Stop swimming or boating as soon as you see or hear a storm. Remember, lightning is electricity - electricity and water are a dangerous combination.
* Don't swim in the dark.
* Wherever you're swimming, do have a waterfall of fun!

Swimming Pool Drowning

According to the National Safety Council, drowning is a leading cause of accidental death in this country, especially for children under five. Although the greatest percentage of drownings occur in natural aquatic settings, (e.g., oceans, lakes, quarries, etc.) drownings do occur in swimming pools. The water depth of any pool is sufficient for drowning to occur. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports drowning of children even in water buckets and toilets.

Protecting young children from accidental drownings and near drownings in all aquatic environments, whether natural or constructed, is a primary concern of the aquatic industry, health and safety organizations and regulatory groups. It is the responsibility of the parent, caretaker and pool owner to prevent accidents.

Fish are able to live and breathe under water, but people need air to breathe. People drown when too much water gets into their lungs. When that happens, the lungs can't carry enough oxygen to the brain and the rest of the body

Swimming Pool General Guidelines

In ground pools can be constructed in a variety of shapes and sizes depending on the amount of space available in a yard and the functionality you desire. Depths may range from splash areas of 3-to-5 feet to diving pools of 6-to-8 or 10 feet.

Swimming Pool Safety

nstall barriers to make the pool or spa area safer and delay entry of unsupervised children. Fences should be at least four feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates, which are kept in good working order. Power safety covers or doors equipped with an alarm system or self-closing and self-latching devices are other effective safety features. While these measures do not replace supervision, they can prevent or detect access by young children to the pool. Use these barriers in "layers," with each layer adding to the safety of the pool.

Don't leave toys in the water: Toys could lure a child back when a parent is not present.

Enroll in a water safety course with your child: Your decision to provide your child with an early aquatic experience is a gift that will have infinite rewards.

Watch the weather: Know local weather conditions and prepare for electrical storms. Because water conducts electricity, stop swimming as soon as you see or hear a storm.
S.Merillat(r)

For more tips on Pool Safety, visit http://www.1800pools.com
Steve Merillat has been in the Pool industry for 35 years. He started early on working for various Swimming Pool supply companies before ventured out in his own business. He pioneered many processes with the installation of pools that are used as industry standards today. He regularly holds seminars and classes on how to properly maintain your Swimming Pool. Visit http://www.1800pools.com