Pool Safety

Above all - pool safety

Drowning is a serious threat to young children. Children under the age of 5 are especially vulnerable. There is also a high number of near drownings that may lead to permanent, severe disabilities. Many of these drownings occur in the child's own backyard swimming pool. For the most part these drownings are preventable. The water depth of any pool is sufficient for drowning to occur.

Each year, in the United States, more than 300 children under 5 yrs of age drown in residential swimming pools. More than 2,000 children in this age group are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries.

75% of submersion victims are between 1 and 3 years old.65% are boys. Toddlers in particular are most vulnerable.At the time of the incidents, most victims were being supervised by parents. 46% were last seen in the house.69% of the children were not expected to be in or near the pool, yet they were found in the water.

Pool submersions involving children can happen quickly. A child can drown in the time it takes to answer the phone.77% of the victims had been missing from sight for 5 minutes or less.

Survival depends on rescuing the child quickly and restarting the breathing process. Seconds count in preventing death or brain damage.

Child drowning is a silent death. There's no splashing to alert anyone that the child is in trouble.

Following are some pool safety rules...

Pool Safety - Don't

Leave children unsupervised in the poolor inside the pool area... Not even for a second. If you have to leave the pool area for any reason take the children with you.

Inform guests to your home that you take thesafety of your children seriously and that it is important that the children are closely watchedaround the pool.

A fence or barrier should completely encloseyour pool. All gates or doors leading from the house to the pool should have self-closing and self-latching mechanisms. The latch should be above the reach of toddlers or young children. Keep in mindthat no barrier is fool proof.

Check with you local city government to learn their requirements concerning fencing around pools.

Drain any standing water from your pool cover.Children can drown in a small amount of water. If you use lightweight or floating pool covers be morealert, as they are not for safety.

Don't keep toys, tricycles or other playthings in the pool area. Remove anything that a child coulduse to climb over the barrier.

Don't be distracted by phone calls, doorbells, or chores while the children are in the pool. Your attention belongs on the kids.

Don't allow anyone of any age to swim alone.Your children will follow your example.

Don't rely on swimming lessons or "floaties"to protect your children.

Don't prop gates open.

Pool Safety - Do

Do attend a CPR class. All family members and babysitters should know CPR. Your local fire department will direct you to the nearest classes.

Post 911 or local emergency numbers on all your phones.

Learn water rescue. Keep lifesaving equipmentnear the pool.

Lock any passageway to the pool such as pet doors or windows facing the pool.

Check the latches and gates frequently to make sure that they are in good working order.

Pool Safety - Other rules

Decks should have a non-slip surface.
All glasses and cups should be non breakable.
No rough housing around the pool.
Stay out of water during a lightening or rainstorms.

If you insist on rules for your family when usingthe pool, you will cut your risk of accidents. It's worth saving a life...

In case of an emergency follow these pool safety rules

Act immediately

Shout for help.

Pull the child out of the water.

Take the child to the phone and dial 911 (or local emergency number) for help.

Check airway and breathing. If needed, start CPR immediately. CPR can save the child's life and prevent serious injury.

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