Swimming pools are a popular way to cool off during hot days, but they come with responsibilities for safety. To ensure children’s safety around pools, parents and caregivers can follow several precautions.
Active supervision is crucial. Children should never be left alone near water bodies like pools, spas, bathtubs, toilets, or any standing water. Adults supervising children near water should avoid distractions.
Teaching children basic swimming and water safety skills through swim lessons can help reduce the risk of drowning. However, even children who have had lessons require close supervision in or around water.
Learning CPR is recommended as bystander-initiated CPR can be life-saving while waiting for paramedics.
Using approved safety devices is important. Toys such as floaties, water wings, pool noodles, and inner tubes are not designed for swimmer safety. Only Coast Guard-approved life jackets should be used.
Installing barriers and alarms can prevent unsupervised access to pools or open water by children.
Swimming after dark is discouraged because it becomes difficult to see if someone is in distress.
Finally, listening to lifeguards and following their advisories is essential. Lifeguards do not replace the need for active supervision of children in and around the water.
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