Enjoy Your Swimming Pool Safely

Drowning and diving accidents in swimming pools are a major cause of serious injury. Swimming pools are so dangerous; that 300 children under age 5 die and 2,000 more children under age five visit hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries every year. Children love playing in the pool, but should be supervised at all times to avoid accidents.  Children, ages four and under, have a drowning death rate more than three times greater than other age groups, accounting for 80 percent of all home drownings. Children are drawn to water, and they can drown even if they know how to swim, because of confusion or fear. Children should be taught to swim and should always swim with a buddy.  Children need constant supervision when in or around the pool, because they can slip into swimming pools without a sound or splash.  Wading pools are shallow bodies of water intended for use by small children, usually in parks, and provide some safety for small children, but should not be relied on.  Private pools that do not have professional lifeguards should be closely monitored by a parent or guardian.

Many precautions can be taken to ensure the continuous safety of your family when in a swimming pool. Barriers may be used to protect children from accessing hot tubs and spas, and should have no foot or handholds that could help a young child to climb, also vertical fence slats should be less than 4 inches apart to prevent a child from squeezing through.  The latch should be out of a child's reach, because placing the release mechanism at a great height prevents a young child from reaching over the top of a gate and releasing the latch.  Install an alarm that can be temporarily turned off by an adult for a single opening of the door by using a keypad or switch; that is out of a child's reach.  Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool, and during social gatherings, appoint a "designated watcher" to protect young children from pool accidents, because some adults can become preoccupied, especially if barbequing also. Another safety measure is isolation fencing, which separates the pool from the home, either surrounding the pool or enclosing all doors leading from the home, to protect children who get out the door from moving beyond the patio.  Storing pool chemicals in a safe place that is inaccessible to children and pets, is an important safety precaution.

 If a child is missing, check the pool first.  A child can drown in a small inflatable pool just as easily as in a large in-ground or above-ground pool. Because portable/inflatable pools are often soft-sided, a child leaning on the side of such a pool can easily tumble head first into the pool and be unable to right him or herself.  Most people assume if their young child falls into the pool, there will be lots of splashing and screaming, and plenty of time to react.  In reality, a child slips into the water and often goes under the surface without any noise being heard. Children, ages four and under, have a drowning death rate more than three times greater than other age groups, accounting for 80 percent of all home drownings.

Having a pool in the backyard can be one of the most enjoyable pastimes, yet it can also be one of the most dangerous. Drowning, slip and fall, and diving accidents account for more than half of the injuries reported in homes throughout the United States. Make sure that you have all the bases covered before you allow your child and friends to enter the swimming pool. Emergency rooms, children and the summer heat are not a good combination.