Original post date August 2018: Summer is right around the corner, and If you, family members and/or friends have a pool, your utmost concern should be pool safety for your children and their friends.
Even with the strictest of parents who teach their children to avoid the pool without adult supervision and enlist their kids in swimming lessons, need to take extreme precaution. Most parents are well aware of the swimming ability of their children, but what about the skills of their children’s friends? It is important to remember that any child who comes to a person’s home is their responsibility.
With the Chicago summer approaching, the pool can be very enticing on a hot day and kids wanting to splash or frolic might not have “pool safety” at the top of their concerns. The only way to guarantee your kids will be safe from temptation is by installing a pool fence, glass wall or net to protect them.
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With over 25 years of experience, they pride themselves on keeping children, as well as pets (see pet fences here), safe from pools, spas, and other water areas (such as ponds). Below is the ABC’s for Pool Safety:
A is for Adult Supervision:
Remember the no. 1 water safety rule: “Never ever swim alone!”
Always watch swimmers, especially at a public pool.
Hire a certified lifeguard for pool parties whenever kids are present.
Tragedies often occur when a caregiver is at home and there is a lapse of supervision.
B is for Barriers (for the pool):
The first line of defense is to install and use “Layers of Protection.”
Perimeter fences must be non-climbable, four-sided, and a minimum of 48 to 60 inches high.
Isolation fences must separate the pool/spa from the residence with openings no more than 4 inches wide so children can’t squeeze through the spaces.
Gates must be kept closed and never propped open.
Doors, windows and gates must be locked, self-closing and self-latching.
Tables, chairs and planters must be moved away from the pool.
C is for Classes (Swim Lessons and CPR):
Enroll children in proven swimming lessons until they have mastered the four competitive strokes, treading water, sidestroke and floating.
CPR skills have saved lives and prevented brain damage until assistance arrives. All caregivers should be required to become CPR certified.
D is for Devices (Poles, Ring Buoy, Rescue Tube, First Aid Kit and Cell Phone):
Keep a cell phone by the pool whenever you are there.
Post 911 emergency number, home phone number and address by a phone.
Purchase a lightning detector or get out of the water when threatening weather looms.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “…drownings are a leading cause of injury death for young children ages 1 to 14, and three children die every day as a result of drowning. In fact, drowning kills more children 1-4 than anything else except birth defects.” Be on the lookout! “When kids are in or near water (including bathtubs), closely supervise them at all times. Because drowning happens quickly and quietly, adults watching kids in or near water should avoid distracting activities like playing cards, reading books, talking on the phone, and using alcohol or drugs.”