Swimming Pool Safety – Quick Tips
As the heat of the summer lingers on, many families enjoy spending time swimming in their own or local community pools. While swimming can be a fun way to cool off in the summer, it can also be a dangerous activity if families are not careful playing and relaxing around the water. To help keep your loved ones safe, follow these safety tips:
- NEVER LEAVE CHILDREN ALONE. According to the American Red Cross, 69% of young children who drown were not expected to be in or near water. Never leave children unattended, even if they are not in the pool. Just playing near the water could lead to an accident.
- USE THE BUDDY SYSTEM. There’s safety in numbers when going for a swim. Having a confident swimmer in the water with you or your child is important in case emergency assistance is needed.
- TAKE A CLASS. If you or anyone in your family doesn’t know how to swim, enroll in an age-appropriate learn-to-swim course. Young or inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water.
- SECURE YOUR POOL. Surround your pool with a four-sided isolation fence that has a self-closing and self-latching gate. According to the American Red Cross, “A four-sided isolation fence (separating the pool area from the house and yard) reduces a child’s risk of drowning 83% compared to three-sided property-line fencing.” As a secondary security barrier, consider installing an alarm system that triggers when the pool fence door is opened.
- SELF-CARE IS IMPORTANT TOO. While out in the sun, remember to protect your skin with sunscreen and drink lots of water. Dehydration could make you less focused on monitoring young children or responding to emergencies quickly.
- KNOWLEDGE IS POWER. In case of a water emergency, it’s important to know how to call for help and how to perform CPR on adults and children. Check your local hospitals or community centers to learn more about CPR certification classes near you.
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The information listed above was obtained from sources believed to be reliable. AAA South Jersey, its affiliates and employees assume no liability in connection with the information or suggestions. The recommendations provided are general in nature; there may be additional safety procedures available that are not referenced on this webpage.