Practice The Layers of Protection Around the Pool
Below are important layers of protection and safety tips to consider implementing to stay safe in and around water:
1. Never leave a child unattended in or near the water. Children are generally curious whether they are outside playing, running through the house or out by the pool. Make sure there is always one person whose sole responsibility is watching a child in or near the water. That means no smart devices, books being read or focused on anyone else. This designated water watcher has the responsibility to watch the kids at all times.
2. Enroll children in survival swimming lessons. Survival swimming is a child’s ability to float and breathe regardless of the water’s depth for an indefinite amount of time. Survival swim means your child, beginning at the age of six months old, can roll-back-to-float position and get themselves to the pool’s edge or staircase where they can get out of the water on their own or wait to be rescued.
3. Teach children to stay away from drains while in a pool or hot tub; and ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers. The vacuum effect of a pool or hot tub drain is strong enough to hold swimmers, especially children, underwater at the bottom of a pool either by their skin or their hair. Old covers are flat allowing a body to completely enclose the drain cover while new covers are rounded and unable to be completely covered by the body. Make sure your pool drain cover and other pools you visit are VGB-compliant.
4. Install pool barriers. Barriers like fencing, a pool cover and pool alarms are imperative in buying time should there be a lapse in supervision. Be sure to equip your pool and pool area with fences, covers and alarms that meet regulations. Pool Zoom has many different pool safety cover options to choose from. These provide an extra layer of protection for your pool, helping to deter young children from entering during non-swim times.
It’s also important to outfit your pool area with safety equipment that can be used in the event of an aquatic emergency. Pool Zoom offers both foam ring buoys and lifeguard hooks that should be readily available on any pool deck.
5. Know CPR. Parents, grandparents, child care providers, older siblings, and anyone who is responsible for watching kids should know how to provide rescue techniques like CPR in response to an emergency.
6. Sign the Pool Safely Pledge. Be proactive in keeping everyone safe in and around the water by signing this online call to action.
When it comes to pool safety, don’t take any shortcuts. Accidents happen within an instant, but implementing and practicing the layers of protection on a daily basis can help the unfathomable from occurring.
Below are important layers of protection and safety tips to consider implementing to stay safe in and around water:
1. Never leave a child unattended in or near the water. Children are generally curious whether they are outside playing, running through the house or out by the pool. Make sure there is always one person whose sole responsibility is watching a child in or near the water. That means no smart devices, books being read or focused on anyone else. This designated water watcher has the responsibility to watch the kids at all times.
2. Enroll children in survival swimming lessons. Survival swimming is a child’s ability to float and breathe regardless of the water’s depth for an indefinite amount of time. Survival swim means your child, beginning at the age of six months old, can roll-back-to-float position and get themselves to the pool’s edge or staircase where they can get out of the water on their own or wait to be rescued.
3. Teach children to stay away from drains while in a pool or hot tub; and ensure all pools and spas have compliant drain covers. The vacuum effect of a pool or hot tub drain is strong enough to hold swimmers, especially children, underwater at the bottom of a pool either by their skin or their hair. Old covers are flat allowing a body to completely enclose the drain cover while new covers are rounded and unable to be completely covered by the body. Make sure your pool drain cover and other pools you visit are VGB-compliant.
4. Install pool barriers. Barriers like fencing, a pool cover and pool alarms are imperative in buying time should there be a lapse in supervision. Be sure to equip your pool and pool area with fences, covers and alarms that meet regulations. Pool Zoom has many different pool safety cover options to choose from. These provide an extra layer of protection for your pool, helping to deter young children from entering during non-swim times.
It’s also important to outfit your pool area with safety equipment that can be used in the event of an aquatic emergency. Pool Zoom offers both foam ring buoys and lifeguard hooks that should be readily available on any pool deck.
5. Know CPR. Parents, grandparents, child care providers, older siblings, and anyone who is responsible for watching kids should know how to provide rescue techniques like CPR in response to an emergency.
6. Sign the Pool Safely Pledge. Be proactive in keeping everyone safe in and around the water by signing this online call to action.
When it comes to pool safety, don’t take any shortcuts. Accidents happen within an instant, but implementing and practicing the layers of protection on a daily basis can help the unfathomable from occurring.
