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

• If you do plan to swim often with your baby, it may be a good idea to take an infant CPR course, so you know what to do if you are ever faced with an emergency. Watch gurgle's video guide to First Aid with advice from St John's Ambulance if your baby stops breathing.
• If at all possible, any adult supervising your child at a pool should know how to perform CPR.
• For more information, read our feature on Basic First Aid.
  

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.
  

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 garden.
• 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.
  

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.
  

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. Make sure you buy armbands appropriate for your child's age.
• 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.

Last Modified: 16/07/2009