Summer Pool Safety Tips

Dr. Jack Cornwell, Medical Director CareWell Urgent Care

With summer weather finally here, swimming and barbecues are top of mind. But before you open your pool or head to a neighbor’s, consider this: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that from 2005-2014, there were an average of 3,536 fatal drownings (non-boating related) annually in the United States. In fact, drowning is one of the top causes of death for children ages 1-3. While these statistics are alarming, there are simple measures you can take to keep your family safe. Follow these four tips to ensure the pool remains a fun oasis this summer.

Supervision

Keeping children under constant supervision is crucial for maintaining pool safety. A responsible adult should be designated to watch children swimming or playing in or around the water. Inexperienced swimmers should have supervision within an arm’s reach at all times and have access to flotation devices as needed. Since drowning occurs so quickly and quietly, adults should avoid distractions such as reading or talking on the phone while supervising children, even if lifeguards are present.

Build a Fence

The most effective way to keep children safe around water is to control access to and from your pool by installing a fence around it. When selecting a fence, make sure you review your town’s rules, as many have specific requirements for pool fencing. To take your safety precautions a step further, consider investing in a door alarm, underwater alarm and window guards for those that overlook the pool. Lastly, pool covers can add an extra layer of protection, especially those that can be locked.

Swimming Lessons

Enrolling your children in swimming lessons and water-safety skill classes can increase their pool safety tremendously. Some classes are available to children as young as six months old. In fact, participation in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning by as much as 88 percent among children ages 1 to 4, who are at the greatest risk of drowning. But before enrolling your children, take into account their previous exposure to water, maturity, physical limitations and health concerns to ensure that they’re ready.

Safety Equipment

The last step is to invest in safety equipment for your pool that is readily available when needed. At a minimum, your pool should be equipped with life jackets, a ring buoy and a rescue hook. You should also invest in a first-aid kit, and if your family has been trained in CPR (a good idea for any pool owner), you can hang up a handy guide or reminder. Lastly, make sure a phone is near the pool area in case of an emergency.

No matter how prepared you are, accidents are bound to happen during a day of lounging around by the pool. At the end of the day, paying close attention to pool safety is critical to having a safe summer.