Splash Safely This Summer

Cooling down in a pool or at the beach is a summer ritual for most of us in Malibu. It is a fun time to be alive, but there are potential dangers that can easily be avoided by taking some precautions.

There's no reason not to have fun with your children and let them play with or in water, but whether in a pool, spa, bathtub, bucket or sink, water can be a hazard. A small child can drown in as little as an inch of water.

Don't take your eyes off your child when they are around water or swimming. This may seem like it's a no-brainer, but it only takes a couple seconds for a child to slip into a pool or body of water when an adult is not watching. Bring along your cellphone when at the pool in case of an emergency.

If you have a kiddie pool at home, drain it and store it upright after each use. If you have a permanent pool, whether above ground or below, a four-foot-tall fence equipped with a self-locking gate should be installed to enclose the pool area. Even if your child knows how to swim, my personal belief is that any home with a pool and children should have a gate around it. Make sure spas and hot tubs also have lockable covers.

Put away any pool toys after each use so children will not be tempted to use them when they are not supervised.

Teach children to stay away from pool drains and pipes. From 1999 to 2008, according to CPSC data, there were 83 reports of suction entrapment, including 11 deaths and 69 injuries. You should install safety drain covers compliant with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. Virginia Graeme Baker was a 7-year-old girl who became stuck to a hot tub drain and was unable to free herself in 2002. Hair, clothing and limbs can be entrapped in a faulty drain, pulling a child or adult down into the water from the vacuum effect.

Swimming lessons can be a fun way to learn water safety, although they shouldn't give the parent a false sense of security when you allow your child near water.

Learn infant/child CPR. It will be worth the small investment of money and time to learn these life-saving skills. The Red Cross offers classes in both adult and child/infant CPR. Classes are also offered at Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center in Thousand Oaks, and you can find more information on the web site. 

With a little precaution and supervision, you can let your child splash to his or her heart's content.