Stay Cool at The Pool

• July 24, 2019
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As school comes to an end, the fun begins for most kids. Community pools open their gates and floods of families, friends, and kids fill the lawn chairs and kiddie pools. It’s a time for fun, relaxation, and a little Vitamin D. However, many accidents happen around a busy pool, so here are some tips and advice to avoid those stressful situations when you just want to have a good time.

With summer comes high risk for accidents at pools. Statistics show that everyday, nine people die in the United States due to pool related accidents. First, let’s establish basic pool safety. When accompanying a child to the pool one must know how to swim and should be within arms reach, this is called “touch supervision”. This apples mostly to young children and infants. For older children, an adult should pay constant attention, free from distractions such as talking on the phone, socializing, and drinking alcohol. Toys should be kept away from the pools surface, as well as electrical appliances and type of riding toys such as bicycles. Diving should no be allowed where it is not deep enough, and of course, no running around the pool. All are critical and must be maintained to guarantee safety.

To take it a step further it is important that parents provide the child swimming lessons. Many deaths and injuries are caused by drowning or submersion. Children four years and older should be placed in swimming lessons. This will lower the likely hood of a drowning accidents amongst pools both private and residential pools. Some factors you may consider before starting swimming lessons for younger children would include frequency of water exposure, emotional maturity with the child,physical limitations. And any health concerns. On a more serious note, spinal cord injuries, permanent brain damage, and death can occur to swimmers who dive in shallow water or spring upward on the diving board and hit it on the way down. It is highly recommended that you stress the importance of practicing safe surrounding and being aware of your limitations and well being.

Now that you understand why its important you learn and practice water safety, it would benefit the individual by becoming CPR certified, knowing basic first aid and life saving techniques. You never know when they might come in handy and save a life.

Enjoy your summer and be smart. Watch your children and be aware of your surroundings , prepare children for summer activities, and know what to do in the case of an emergency. Summer should be safe, good fun… so make it that way.

Alyssa Pasek