How to Keep Kids Safe Around the Pool

Swimming is a wonderful summer activity for both adults and children. However, the fourth leading cause of death of children in the United States is drowning. It is essential that caregivers constantly monitor children while they are in or around the pool. The following article discusses ways to keep your kids safe around the pool.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Cell phone or cordless phone
• Door alarm
• Fencing for around pool area

How to Keep Kids Safe Around the Pool

1. Supervise your child constantly. The more people and chaos that is around the pool, the more closely children must be monitored. Assign one person the responsibility of watching the children. Before that person can leave the pool area, she must designate the responsibility to another adult.

2. Install an alarm on any doors that lead to the pool.

3. Be sure that your pool has a fence completely around it. The fence should be at least five feet high with a locking gate.

4. Take your child to swimming lessons. It is important that a child learn to swim as early as possible. However, even if your child can swim, he still needs to be closely supervised around the pool.

5. Enroll in an infant and child CPR class. This may literally save your child's life!

Tips & Warnings

• If you use a kiddie pool, be sure to drain it and turn it upside down when it is not being used.
• Take a cordless phone or cell phone out to the pool with you. This way, you will not be tempted to go into the house when the phone rings.
• If older children or adults are roughhousing in the pool, it is best to take smaller children out to avoid injury.
• Do not count on rafts or rings to keep your child safe in the pool. They may float away from the child or suddenly deflate.
• Don't allow anyone to depend on flotation devices such as rafts or rings as they make suddenly lose their air or become detached from the person and float away.

Resources

• Pool safety products
• Pool safety tips