Swimming pool is a place where your families and loved ones enjoy and relax. Kids love to play and swim in the pool and have fun. However, swimming pools can also be dangerous. It is important that you understand that accidents may occur when they are in the pool.
As parents and pool owners, your priority must be ensuring your children’s safety. There are certain guidelines that you must know to make sure your kids are safe once the swimming pool is accessible to them.
1. Supervise your children all the time
Parents or guardians must pay close attention to their children, especially for the kids below 4 years old. Pool accidents like drowning can take place in just a matter of seconds, so adults should always be alert and vigilant.
In addition, never let your children swim alone even they are good swimmers. Even a child who knows how to swim can be at risk. Let them have companion all the time.
2. Never allow your children to play excessively in the pool
Kids always want to play and run around the pool. Although swimming pool is a place for fun bonding activities, it is still dangerous to let your children play excessively in the pool.
Over-excitement in the pool may increase the risk of unexpected accidents such as slipping and falling in the pool, pool drain entrapment and drowning. Too much jumping and pushing can accidentally hurt them or someone in the pool. Children can play and have fun in the pool but you should teach them to know their limits.
3. Teach children how to swim
Swimming is a good skill to have for kids. Teaching your children some swimming skills at a young age (kids below 4 years old) makes them overcome their fear of the water and become comfortable in the pool. You have to be gentle and careful to avoid any accidents.
You can teach your older kids (ages 6-12) basic strokes such as backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly stroke. Children in this age group are more responsive and coordinated than the younger ones. Maybe they will not become professional swimmers, teaching them to swim can still help them develop self-disciple, confidence and self-awareness.
If you don’t have enough knowledge on how to teach your children on swimming, you can get them enrol in formal swimming lessons.
4. Learn CPR so you can do it properly
CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) is a necessary procedure that you should know. CPR can be done when the child’s breathing or heartbeat has stopped which may happen after suffocation, drowning or any pool-related injury.
When your child’s blood flow stops, brain damage or even death can occur to them in just a few minutes. You must continue with the procedure until the heartbeat and breathing return or medical assistance arrives. CPR involves rescue breathing and chest compression which can save your child’s life.
To learn CPR, you can enroll in any CPR and First Aid Training Courses near your place.
5. Pool safety devices should be available
Although some pool safety devices may be costly and hard to maintain, it can provide another layer of protection for your kids. Pool safety devices such as pool alarms, gate alarms, pool cover and detectors can prevent children from drowning.
These safety devices can be used to restrict child’s access to the pool and alert parents when pool gate is opened or keep your children floating if they fall in the pool.
6. Install safety pool fence
Many kids who got drowned in the pool were out of sight for less than 5 minutes. Pool fencing is a helpful way to limit the child’s access to the pool. It is your responsibility to install a safety pool barrier around your swimming pool.
Installing a pool barrier is essential not only to keep your children safe but also to avoid penalties. In NSW, there are important safety pool fence guidelines that you must follow to make sure that your kids are safe (e.g. minimum height requirement of your swimming pool fence).
Conclusion
Accidents are less likely to happen when you follow these swimming pool guidelines carefully. You can not only have a safe swimming pool but also enjoy your bonding activities with your family.
Another way to keep your kids safe is to have your pools inspected. You can contact a private certifier to conduct a pool safety inspection for your swimming pool. Private certifiers can provide a comprehensive pool inspection and repair services to make sure that your pool is totally safe.