Swimming Pool Safety
If you are in need of more information, check out www.poolsafely.gov This is a link to a government website that is full of useful information. Information used in this blog was obtained from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
Despite the cold and snow, the pool season is around the corner. It maybe further around the corner for some, but still, it’s there. There is never a bad time to start thinking about swimming pool safety, and with the season approaching one must ask themselves, “Am I ready?” Some new pool owners might be wondering why there is such a push for swimming pool safety, or what can they do to make sure that the season goes off without a hitch. I intend to give important information about these topics today.
There are a few main factors that increase the risk of drowning, such as lack of swimming ability, lack of barriers to prevent unsupervised swimming, lack of close supervision, failure to wear life jackets (they are not just for the lake), alcohol use, and seizure disorders.
So, what can you as a parent and pool owner do to keep your favorite summer past time safe? To start, swimming lessons help greatly. Take the time to teach your children how to swim or give them the opportunity to take classes. Next, as the adult you should learn CPR. In the event of submersion, every second counts. The sooner CPR is started, the better the chance there is of improved outcomes.
LIFE JACKETS, LIFE JACKETS, LIFE JACKETS!!! “Water wings,” “noodles,” and other air filled toys are not designed to keep swimmers safe. Supervision is key, there should always be a designated adult to watch young children in and around the pool. The younger the child is, the closer the adult should be. Children preschool aged and younger should always be within reach of an adult. Keep in mind that drowning can happen quick and quietly. Supervision should be the only thing the designated adult concerns themselves with. IPhones, Facebook, Twitter and all other distractions can wait. If someone in or around your pool area is subject to seizures, that person should have their own personal supervisor. For us older folks, we need to avoid alcohol.
I know that this may sound like a drag to some. Lets face it: cold drinks, middle of summer, pool parties. They all sound like a blast, right? The truth is that alcohol obviously affects the brain, slows reaction time, and impairs motor function. Those, my friends, are absolutely necessary when swimming. Unfortunately, the combinations of drinking and swimming is what took my friend’s life at such a young age. In addition to that, adults under the influence are different than a small child in a panic. One difference is that they may not know their limitations. The other is that adults are obviously are larger, and in a rescue attempt might actually put the child in danger. Another important thing to avoid is allowing swimmers to “hyperventilate” before swimming under water, or holding their breath for long periods of time. Those actions could result in what is know as “shallow water blackout”. Lastly, be aware of the weather conditions. Pools and lightning do not mix. When I was young, my family and I were swimming when the clouds started getting dark. We heard what sounded like thunder followed by a strange sizzle, and at that time my mother said it was time to get out. When we started unfolding the solar cover that had been draped over the railing of the pool deck, we noticed that is had evidently been hit by lightning as we could see by the melted, blackened plastic that stuck together as we unfolded it.
In addition to the tips in bold above, it is a good idea to have an automatic safety cover if your pool is in ground, or a fence, which would be beneficial to both inground as well as “above” or “on” ground, they will help keep children away from danger. In the case of a fence, use a self latching model or a self closing gate that open outward, and keep the latches out of children’s reach.
There are many other products available to help protect your loved ones, including alarms, and automatic door locks. Also, you should keep the pool area clear of pool toys when not in use. This prevents the child from being tempted to enter the pool area to retrieve such things. These are some of the best pool safety tips for keeping you children safe around the pool. Follow these guidelines and have a fun filled and safe swimming pool experience.
Thank you for sharing your views regarding safety while swimming.