Swimming Pool Safety Tips for Children

Margaret Embry

Contributor

0 CommentsPrint ArticleSubscribe

Summertime means more children are headed to the swimming pool to cool off and have fun. While a summertime staple, it is important to be aware of the dangers of swimming pools. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,

More than one in four fatal drowning victims are children 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another four received emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries

To avoid injury or death, follow these tips from The Injury Prevention Program to ensure your child or a child you know is safe while swimming.

• Never leave a child alone in or around a swimming pool, even for a moment. An adult who is trained to perform CPR should supervise children at all times.
• For children under five, an adult should always be within an arm’s length from the child when swimming.
• A fence separating the house from the pool must be put up. The fence should be at least four feet high and around all four sides of the pool. Use self-closing and self-latching gates, with latches higher than a child’s reach.
• Keep rescue equipment and a telephone near the pool.
• Always used approved life vests as opposed to air-filled swimming aids.
• When the pool is not in use, all pool toys should be removed from the pool to avoid children being tempted to reach for them.
• When the pool is not in use, secure pool area so children cannot get back in.
• A child who has been taught how to swim is not necessarily safe in the water.