Swimming Pool Safety 101

Use common sense -- and pool fencing -- to protect kids

With kids in the home and a swimming pool in the backyard, supervision is the No. 1 way to keep your children safe from injury or drowning. But supervision, by itself, is not nearly enough to ensure pool safety.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, of all the swimming pool accidents involving small children, 77% of the victims had been seen by a parent/guardian within the past five minutes. Almost 80% of swimming pool accidents occurred when both parents were at home and watching the child!

Experts at the National Spa & Pool Institute, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that pool safety barriers are always necessary. The fence should be a minimum of 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching pool gate. All Guardian pool safety fence systems meet these standards.

Pool safety checklist

Here is a guide for parents of children under 5. Common sense is the key to all of these pool safety recommendations.

Doors leading to the pool should be kept locked and alarmed if possible.
Install a safety barrier around the entire pool, so that the only reason to go through that barrier is to use the pool. This is a must-do for families with small children. If this isn't possible, make sure your safety barrier prevents access from ALL doors, gates and windows leading into the pool area.

You must assume that a child will try to beat your pool safety system.

If you don't think this is true, YOU ARE WRONG!

The reasons for this are very simple to understand

A child does not know right from wrong.
All children are attracted to the water/pool.
A child does not know or understand fear.
You can't trust a child's judgment.
If a child can't be found, immediately check the pool first. Time is critical!
When having a party, designate a child watcher for pool safety. Adults become preoccupied when socializing and often assume someone else is watching the kids.
Never consider youngsters "water safe" because they've had swimming lessons. There are no water-safe children.
No one should ever swim alone. Teach your children to use the buddy system. Since children learn by example, parents should follow these pool safety tips too.
Learn CPR. Anyone responsible for children, such as babysitters, should know CPR. Because of the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills can make a difference in someone's life.
Radios, CD players and ALL other electrical equipment should be kept away from the pool area.
Toys and games should not be stored or left near the pool. The lure of toys near the pool is much too inviting for children.
Keep a phone and rescue equipment handy in the pool area. Make sure they work.
No drugs or alcohol when you plan to use the pool.
Never dive into the shallow end.
Stay out of the pool during thunder and lightning storms.

Please supervise your children at all times -- and install a Guardian removable safety fence around your pool.

This guide courtesy of www.safetypoolfence.ca Please feel free to distribute this to your friends and neighbors!

Remember, teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT MEAN your child is safe in water.