Swimming pool and paddling pool safety

Pools – whether it’s an inflatable paddling pool or a proper pool – can be great fun and most children love playing with, in or around water. However, you should never forget that being near water puts babies, toddlers and children at risk.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is the second-leading cause of unintentional injury-related death for children ages one to 14 years old. Among children ages one to four years, most drownings occur in residential swimming pools. Most young children who drown in pools were last seen in the home, had been out of sight for less than five minutes, and were in the care of one or both parents at the time.

Never forget that a small child can drown in as little as a few inches of water. Knowing the potential risks, taking the right precautions over water safety when you babyproof your home and yard, and teaching your child to behave responsibly in and around water will help make it a fun and stimulating environment in which you and your child can relax and enjoy yourselves. Follow gurgle’s tips for pool safety…

Supervise constantly

• When using a paddling pool or your home pool, supervise your child at all times, preferably by staying within arm’s length of her.
• If you have to leave poolside, take your child with you and secure the pool fence or lock the exterior door so your child can’t go back out to the pool without you. 
• For extra safety, use a pool alarm that sounds an alert if someone falls into the pool – but keep in mind that these alarms are not a substitute for adult supervision of children.
• If you are at a public pool, you should still keep a close eye on your child, particularly if it is busy. Most public pools have lifeguards, but you can’t rely on them to supervise your child.
• Remember, teaching your child how to swim doesn’t mean that she’s safe in water.
  

Learn CPR

• Your local Red Cross and/or YMCA will likely provide course in baby and toddler CPR.
  
• If at all possible, any adult supervising your child at a pool should know how to perform CPR.
  

Remove hazards

• Drain inflatable or rigid paddling pools after use, and put them away – heavy rain can fill up an empty pool just enough to make it a hazard.
• If drain covers are damaged have them repaired before using the pool again as it’s possible for a child’s long hair to become trapped and drag her underwater.
• Always follow manufacturer instructions when using pool chemicals and lock chemicals in a dry place away from heat sources.
  

Fence your pool

• Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. If you have a pool, install a fence at least five feet high around all four sides of the pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard.
• Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your child can reach. 
• Don’t leave furniture near the fence that would enable a child to climb over it.
  

Have an emergency plan

• Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd’s hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.

Use buoyancy aids

• Remember to use buoyancy aids for your child if they can’t swim independently – these could either be inflatable armbands, a zip-up buoyancy jacket or a swimsuit with integral floats that can be removed as she becomes more confident.
• Inflatable armbands aren’t suitable for young babies, so you may want to invest in an inflatable baby swim-seat. 
• Integral suits are great for older children, because it’s very hard for your child to remove the floats inside, unlike armbands, which can easily be slipped off. 
• Inflatable rings and other pool toys are just that – toys. Don’t use them as a floatation aid in the swimming pool.
  

Play safe

• Teach your child to walk, not run, in the pool area, and to avoid pools of water on the floor. It may be a good idea to invest in some non-slip pool shoes to avoid slipping accidents.
• Keep the pool area clear of things you or your child could trip on.
• Remove any toys from your home pool after use so your child won’t be tempted to try to go get them by herself. 
• Respect the age or height limit on water slides and flumes, and if your child is too young or too small, don’t allow them on the slide. You may be allowed to accompany them – check with a pool attendant.
• Do not allow your child to play on or near the ladder leading down into the pool – it’s possible that her foot could slip and become trapped, meaning she can’t surface.
  

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