How to Keep Your Child Safe in a Pool

Most children love to play in swimming pools. Unfortunately, playing in a swimming pool comes with the risk of drowning. A parent's challenge is to keep her children safe in a pool while allowing them to frolic and enjoy their experience. Anxious hovering can instill a fear of the water, which makes the child less safe in the long-term because a child who is afraid of the water is less likely to try to learn to swim. Here is how to keep your child safe in a pool.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Age-appropriate floats
• Constant supervision

1. Buy your child age-appropriate floats. Floats are available for just about any age child. While you cannot rely on floats alone, floats can make your supervisory role easier by not having to hold your child in the water the entire time.

2. Commit to closely supervising your child in the pool. Before you put your child in a pool, resolve to keep an eye on your child at all times. Save your adult conversations for later, when your child is out of the pool.

3. Apply waterproof sunscreen onto your child's skin before he goes into the pool. A child's skin is sensitive to the sun and can burn if it is not protected.

4. Go into the water with your child. Let your child play on his floats, but always stay within an arm's reach of your child. Floats such as boats can tip over, so do not let down your guard just because your child is in a float. Play with your child so the pool experience will be a fun one even with your close supervision.

5. Teach your child to swim. Even very young children can begin learning the basics of swimming, such as how to kick their feet to move forward in the water.

6. Supervise your child even after he learns how to swim. Even strong swimmers have drowned in various circumstances.

Tips & Warnings

• Take a first aid class to learn what to do if your child begins to drown.
• Never leave your child unattended in a swimming pool. A child can drown very quickly without making a sound. Stay vigilant in supervising your child in a swimming pool at all times.
• Never assume that someone else is watching your child. Adults have a habit of focusing on adult conversation and failing to pay attention to the children in the pool. If you need another person to supervise your child in the pool for a few moments, specifically assign one person to do so.
• Always supervise your child when he is using a float. Children have drowned even when using floats.

[nethopperz]

on 4/20/2009 Great tips! You're right. Your attention should always be on your kids when they are in the water. I see adults all the time who go to the pool with their kids, but then immerse themselves in a book or in deep conversation with other adults. Not me. My child will always be my number one!