Protect Your Children from Pool Dangers

Having your own pool can be a lot of fun for all members of the household, no matter how old or young they may be. There are a lot of safety issues to be taken care of, however, if you have children, children who visit your home on a regular basis, or close neighbors with children, as many children drown each year in pool related accidents. It really is better to not have a pool on your property if you have children who are younger than five years of age, but if you already have one, you should make certain that you take extra caution and safety measures to keep them safe.

The most obvious safety rule you should follow, is to never, for any reason, leave children alone in or nearby the pool. This is a rule that should be common sense, but you would be surprised how many parents or babysitters are tempted to walk away for just a second, to answer the phone, go to the bathroom, etc. It only takes a second for a child to drown, and many times the sitter or guardian returns to find the child floating in the pool. So, don’t let this happen to your family!

Another thing that you should do is to make certain your pool area is equipped with plenty of well-maintained safety equipment, to have on hand in case of an emergency. You should have a shepherd’s hook, a portable phone, life vests, etc., near the pool within easy reach.

It is also extremely important that you have your pool completely surrounded by a fence, one high enough so that children can’t climb over. The fence should have a gate equipped with a lock, to which you have the key, and you should make certain that the gate stays locked at all times. This will keep your children from wandering unattended into the pool area, and also keep unwanted guests out of the pool as well.

Every parent or caregiver should take a CPR class, just in case the unexpected does happen on their watch. You may never have to use what you learn in class, but it would be great to know, just in case.

While swimming can be a lot of fun, it is important that you think of safety first and foremost at all times, not only for yourself and your family, but others who may come to your home as well. If someone gets hurt on your property, or even drowns, you could be financially and legally held responsible, which should give you all the more incentive to practice pool safety and security measures!

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Publication: The New York Times

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