Backyard Water Safety From Your Friends At the Patchogue Family YMCA & The Brookhaven Roe Y Center

Summer is in full swing.  Most of us are starting to feel the heat, and doing everything we can to cool off including going in the pool. 

Here are some helpful tips to keep your backyard pool safe this summer:

• Never leave a child alone by a pool.
• Use door, gate, and pool alarms.  You can never be too careful.
• If your pool has the ability put ladders away when adults are not supervising or using the pool.
• Teach children to swim. Swimming is a life saving skill, and a vital tool to prevent drownings.  No child should ever be considered "drown proof".
• Keep a phone near you- use it only to call for help in case of an emergency.
• Larger portable pools should be fenced in as well, and have a lockable gate.
• Smaller portable pools should be emptied and turned upside down when not being supervised.
• If a child is missing, check the pool first.
• Keep toys and floats out of the pool when not in use.  Floating colorful objects are very enticing to a young child.