Laughter, gleeful shouts, and splashing water — all the markings of a quintessential summer day at the pool. But without proper pool safety, these good times can take a turn. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 5 and younger, and according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an average of 371 kids and teens drown in pools and spas each year. Keep the good times rolling and accidents to a minimum with these 9 ways to practice pool safety, from taking swim classes to learning CPR to installing a pool fence, and more.
1. Enroll Young Children in Swimming Lessons
Children as young as 6 months old can participate in swim classes. At that age, the focus is on parents and babies feeling comfortable in the water and learning important water safety tips.
Around age 4 or 5, kids will begin practicing actual swim strokes and lifesaving skills like treading water and floating. (Learning to swim for the first time, yourself? It’s never too late — organizations such as the American Red Cross and the YMCA offer adult swimming lessons, as well.)
Until your little ones have fully grasped the basics of swimming and pool safety, it’s a good idea to have them wear Coast Guard-certified life jackets in the pool. Floaties and water wings can be helpful tools for new swimmers and non-swimmers, too, but don’t rely on those types of floatation devices, as they don’t fully prevent drowning incidents.
2. Learn CPR
In case of a pool emergency — think drowning incident, someone otherwise becoming unconscious in the water, or a head injury from a slip and fall — knowing CPR can help save a life by keeping blood and oxygen circulating to all vital organs. There are two types of CPR: The type that includes mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and the type that doesn’t (aka hands-only CPR); both are effective.
A person who goes into cardiac arrest outside of a hospital has a nine out of 10 chance of dying, but performing CPR can help change those odds for the better. If CPR is given within the first few minutes of an incident, the distressed person’s chances of survival double. So, besides being a useful skill in pool areas, learning CPR can also help you in other locations/situations.
Of course, you can become certified in CPR by taking classes near you, but you don’t have to be certified to help out when necessary. Below are the basic step-by-step instructions to giving CPR, as described by the Red Cross:
- Assess the scene and the situation for safety.
- Check the person for responsiveness and injuries.
- If the person is not responding and/or not breathing, tell someone nearby to call 9-1-1.
- Lay the person on their back on a flat surface and kneel beside them.
- Begin chest compressions — 30 of them at a rate of 100 to 120 per minute.
- If doing mouth-to-mouth, give two breaths after the first 30 chest compressions.
- Continue chest compressions in sets of 30 (and two breaths if doing mouth-to-mouth) until help and/or an AED (automated external defibrillator) device arrives.
3. Never Swim Alone
This safety tip applies to all ages and all experience levels. Accidents can happen in a matter of seconds: A swimmer could hit their head and pass out underwater, go through a sudden medical emergency in the swimming pool, or even experience entrapment — getting hair, limbs, or swimsuit parts unintentionally sucked into a pool vent or drain.
In addition to never allowing anyone to go swimming alone, pool owners can also help prevent incidents like entrapment by using drain covers in their pools and spas/hot tubs.
4. Designate a Water Watcher
While public pools and water parks have lifeguards on duty to maintain water safety and rescue swimmers in distress, your backyard swimming pool does not. This makes adult supervision all the more important at home.
As your kids swim, be sure you’re free of all distractions (including cell phones), so you can keep your focus on what they’re doing. In the event of a pool party with several children swimming, consider designating a “water watcher.” The water watcher’s job will be to supervise the swimmers for a set amount of time; once that time is up, another adult can assume the role.
Note: When supervising small children, especially those ages 4 and younger, the water watcher should be within arm’s reach of those kids, rather than simply being present in the general pool area.
5. Don’t Run on the Pool Deck
Pool decks are notoriously slippery, what with the constant splashing of water and dripping wet swimmers getting in and out of the pool. Running on such a slippery surface can cause falls, potentially leading not only to scrapes, bruises, and broken bones, but also to drowning incidents. Always walk carefully on the pool deck.
6. Only Dive in the Deep End
Diving (specifically entering the pool head-first) should only be done in water that is at least 10 feet deep. Otherwise, swimmers risk hitting their heads on the bottom of the pool, which can cause spinal cord injuries, paralysis, and head trauma.
If you have an above-ground pool, never dive (or even jump feet first) in at all. Above-ground pools can’t be built as deep as in-ground ones, typically reaching depths of just 5 feet but can be as deep as 8 feet — still less than the recommended 10 feet for diving.
7. Always Wear Sunscreen
Before spending time outdoors, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher. While not specifically water safety-related, wearing sunscreen is the most effective way to block dangerous UV rays and prevent sunburn while enjoying your backyard pool. Reapply as needed; sweat and pool water will eventually wear away the first coating.
8. Don’t Swim When It’s Storming
This may seem obvious — of course you’re not going to let anyone take a dip in your pool when it’s lightning and thundering outside. But, it’s also a good idea to refrain from any swimming activities when a storm is approaching, even if you can’t see any signs of it quite yet.
Lightning can strike from 20+ miles away (hence the phrase, “bolt from the blue”), so it’s a good idea to steer clear of swimming any time a storm is in your general area. Clear skies in your own backyard don’t automatically signal it’s clear to swim.
9. Install a Pool Fence
You already know the dangers of swimming alone, so ensure no one can reach your pool unattended by investing in a pool fence, complete with a self-closing and latching gate. Pool fence-building rules can vary by location, but the Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends pool fences be at least 4 feet tall. As an extra precaution, CPSC also suggests outfitting all doors leading to the pool area with door alarms.
FAQ About Practicing Pool Safety
Other than the safety hazards already discussed, like drowning, drain/vent entrapment, and slippery pool decks, additional potential problems include:
● Diving boards
● Improper pool chemical storage/electrical wiring
● Unbalanced water chemistry
● Ladders, stairs, and slides
● Toys not meant for pool use
For the safest pool experience, all swimmers should know these basics:
● Entering/exiting the pool
● Treading water/floating
● Breath control
● Swimming to one end of the pool without getting tired
When to Hire a Professional
When it comes to installing certain pool safety measures, such as fencing, it’s a good idea to hire a local pro to tackle the job. These experts can ensure your fencing meets all guidelines, and they can assess your pool for any other safety concerns and advise you on making changes as well as proper placement of pool chemicals, pool toys, and emergency equipment like AEDs.
If you’re looking to add some more features to your pool — slide and diving board, perhaps? — a local pool pro can put them in and teach you about their safe use.
Main Photo Credit: LiuNian / Canva Pro / License
