May is National Water Safety Month Summer is right around the corner, which means it is finally time to spend time around the pool. Before you dive into summer, take an opportunity to refresh your water safety knowledge. A great way to do this every year is to remember May is National Water Safety Month!
In honor of National Water Safety Month, here are five safety tips to help you make sure you’re ready for fun in the sun:
1. Install pool barriers and use a pool safety cover
Keeping everyone safe around the pool is a great place to start when considering safety. This includes keeping unwanted guests and your family members out of your pool when they shouldn’t be there. Your first line of defense is a fence. Your pool fence and gate should meet the local requirements to prevent unsupervised access. (US Consumer Product Safety Commission) Entry gates should close and latch automatically and the latch should be high enough to prevent small children from opening the gate. You can also install a gate alarm for added security.
In addition to your fence, putting a safety cover over your pool when not in use provides another layer of protection. Finally, removing ladders or steps when the pool isn’t in use will discourage unsupervised access.
2. Swimming lessons for everyone
Making sure everyone in your household knows how to swim is a key component for water safety. Enroll family members in age-appropriate water orientation and swim courses to make sure they’re comfortable in and around the water.
3. Supervise children at all times
Just because children can swim, it doesn’t mean they can be in the pool alone. A flotation device is NEVER a substitute for adult supervision in and around the pool. Small children should stay close to adults each time they’re around the pool. Children who do not know how to swim can wear a U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jacket for added peace of mind.
To help better supervise children during pool time, it is a good idea to designate an adult to watch the water when the pool is in use. No one should swim alone – regardless of age.
4. Know and review pool rules regularly
Establish rules and review safety behaviors with everyone in the household before you “open” the pool for the season. Basic pool rules should include no diving, no running, etc. It is also important to keep children away from pool drains and pipes. Don’t forget to display safety signs around the pool to remind everyone about the rules.
5. Have a pool safety plan
All families should have a safety plan in case of an emergency. This also applies to pools. Having a pool safety plan can help save a life if there should be an emergency. While it is unlikely you’ll use safety training, it is important that all household members know basic first aid and CPR. You can even take first aid and CPR courses as a family activity!
In addition to being trained, make sure you have a well-equipped first-aid kit and rescue equipment poolside. Also, keep CPR instructions posted and have a phone near the pool, just in case.
Image: Water & Pool Safety: Everything Homeowners Need To Know
Water & Pool Safety: Everything Homeowners Need To Know
Having a swimming pool in your backyard can transform your summer days from hot and uncomfortable to cool and unforgettable. Here are seven tips to help keep everyone safe in and around the pool this summer:
Having a swimming pool in your backyard can transform your summer days from hot and uncomfortable to cool and unforgettable. A pool often becomes a neighborhood magnet for fun and relaxation on a hot summer’s day, and the chances of lifelong memories being created by the pool are high.
But with the joy of a swimming pool comes a certain degree of responsibility. Have you noticed that when people gather, everyone thinks that someone else is watching the kids at the pool? It is every adult’s responsibility to take care of their loved ones around the pool.
Here are seven tips to help keep everyone safe in and around the pool this summer:
1. Know who is watching the swimmers: Assign an adult or two at the pool to be responsible for watching the swimmers. You can take turns, but make sure someone is always on duty!
2. Don’t get distracted: When you’re on duty, put your phone, books and magazines down and get involved in the action happening at the pool. Also, don’t consume adult beverages while you’re watching the swimmers.
3. Know who can swim and who can’t: Know whether the children in the pool know how to swim and their swimming level so that you know whether you need to be extra-vigilant.
4. Keep an eye on small children: Just because children can swim, it doesn’t mean they can be in the pool alone. A flotation device is NEVER a substitute for adult supervision in and around the pool. Small children should stay close to adults whenever they are in or around the pool.
5. Know the emergency numbers: Write down the phone numbers that you may need in an emergency, and keep them in a visible area where they are easily accessible. Also, don’t forget to have a phone handy.
6. Secure the pool area with a barrier or a fence: When your pool is inaccessible to unsupervised children and uninvited swimmers, the safer it is. Check out this guide to the pool fencing and signage requirements in your state.
7. Don’t forget the sun screen: Taking care of your skin should already be part of your daily routine but should be even more so during lazy summer days spent in the sun. Test your sun screen knowledge with this fun quiz!
Remember that the price of safety is eternal vigilance. The good news is that thinking about pool safety will soon become second nature to you, once you know what to be aware of.
We are already into the second week of National Water Safety Month, an annual awareness campaign coordinated by the Association of Pool & Spa Professionals.
