Keeping Kids Safe Around the Swimming Pool
Long summer days are the perfect opportunity to make summer memories in the pool. Whether your kids spend most of their time in your backyard pool or you like to visit neighborhood pools, safety should be your top priority. Drowning is rarely as dramatic as parents expect it to be, and children can end up in dangerous situations in a matter of seconds. Before you plan your next pool day, use these tips to keep little ones safe at the pool.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a swimming pool accident, you may be entitled to compensation. Learn more now by calling Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151.
Pool Safety Away from Home
If your family swimming trips take you further than your own backyard, you’ll need to familiarize with the layout of each pool you visit. This will help you figure out how deep your children can go before they need an adult with them and determine whether or not there are separate children’s areas that may be more appropriate for them.
Additionally, take some time to review the rules and safety procedures at each pool before heading out. Ensure that the swim gear you have is approved at the pool you’re visiting and verify whether or not there are lifeguards present. While lifeguards are not a reason to stop watching your kids in the pool, they can give you extra peace of mind.
If you are primarily spending your summer next to your own pool, there are several things you can do to keep young swimmers safe.
Set Up Proper Safeguards
However many safeguards you think you need, you likely need more. Not only are additional safeguards ideal for child safety, they are also generally required by homeowners’ insurance providers. A fence is a good starting point, but you’ll want to make sure that the fence is high enough to keep out trespassers. A short chain link fence is often easily scaled by little ones, so consider a privacy fence or a higher chain link fence.
On top of that, consider alarms that alert you when someone enters the pool area. Some systems send notifications to your phone, while others make a loud alarm noise to scare away unwelcome visitors. You want a system that both detracts trespassers and lets you know if young children have unintentionally wandered into the pool area.
Enforce Strict Rules
While the pool will likely become the neighborhood kids’ favorite spot to hang out on hot days, don’t let your pool become a free-for-all area. Before anyone steps foot in the pool, set and plan on enforcing strict rules. You might require a certain adult-to-kid ratio or only allow kids to swim if their parents are present. You will likely require that people ask for permission before getting into your pool. Make sure everyone brings their own safety gear and follows basic pool etiquette, such as not running on the deck and avoiding unsafe games or roughhousing.
Refresh Your CPR Skills
Although you’ll hopefully never need to use CPR, you should be prepared for the worst-case scenario. Consider taking a CPR course that covers procedures for infants, children, and adults. If someone is drowning, every second counts. You’ll want to jump in and start performing CPR while you wait for emergency personnel.
Update Your Insurance Policies
Don’t forget to let your insurance company know about your pool. They will review the safety precautions you’ve taken and let you know if you need to add any more safeguards to maintain your policy. Don’t make the mistake some homeowners make and keep your pool a secret from the company. Some people do this to avoid an increase in their insurance rate. However, this leaves you exposed to a personal injury lawsuit if someone gets injured. If this happens, you will be left footing the bill entirely on your own.
Discuss Your Options with Reeves & Mestayer
If you’ve suffered an injury in a pool accident, you could be entitled to compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and other losses. We’re here to help. Schedule a consultation now by calling Reeves & Mestayer at 228-374-5151 or contacting us online.
