Pool Safety Tips to Keep Your Family Safe

Summer is the perfect season for swimming, a fun outdoor activity that the whole family can enjoy. However, with a pool comes many responsibilities, including keeping your children safe. Unfortunately, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1-4, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. We hope to minimize these terrible occurrences by providing you with these helpful tips.

Designate a Water Watcher An adult should be assigned the role of “Water Watcher” to supervise, even if there is a lifeguard present. This person should always keep an eye on the family when they’re in or near the water.

Take swimming lessons Ensure that everyone knows how to swim by taking a course. It’ll be worth it in the long run.

Learn CPR Most people probably think they’ll never need Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), but you never know when it’ll come in handy.

Install pool barriers A physical barrier like a fence or gate can prevent children from entering the water, provided that it is an adequate height (at least 4 feet).

Share the pool rules Let your visitors know about your safety rules ahead of time. You can also post these rules on a sign in a visible location for quick reference.

Never swim alone Even experienced swimmers should practice this rule in the event that an emergency occurs, such as a cramp or a heart attack. If you must go in the water by yourself, at least let someone know you’re going for a swim so that they know where to find you.

Be prepared Keep rescue equipment and a first aid kit nearby so that it’s easy to grab when you need it.

We hope you all have a fun and safe summer!

For more pool safety tips, visit https://www.poolsafely.gov/