Swimming pools are lots of fun for the whole family – as long as they’re kept safe. According to the USA Swimming Foundation, 150 children drowned in swimming pools and spas in the summer of 2019 – and ten of those were here in Florida. If you have a pool or hot tub on your property, it’s vitally important to know how to prevent drowning and other water injuries, and to be able to recognize when someone is in trouble. Use these tips to enjoy your pool safely!
- Know the Signs of Drowning
You may think that a drowning person will struggle and shout to attract attention, making it easy to tell when they’re in trouble. However, according to the Red Cross, that isn’t true at all. A person struggling to stay above water doesn’t have the energy to shout for help, and often can’t get their head above water at all. If someone is struggling to reach the surface, is vertical in the water rather than horizontal, or is struggling underwater and not making any progress, that person needs help immediately. The Red Cross recommends taking a first aid and CPR course in case of emergency, and if you have a pool on your property, that’s even more important.
- Install a Protective Barrier
Your pool should always be secured when you’re not using it, and one way to do that is by installing a four-sided fence that completely surrounds the pool. It should be at least four feet high, have a self-latching gate, and be made so that kids can’t climb it. You can even take it a step further and install a door alarm so you’ll always know when someone is heading toward the pool. For more information, see the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Safety Barrier Guidelines for Residential Pools.
- Make Sure Everyone Knows How to Swim
When your property has a pool, everyone in your household should know how to swim. Kids as young as four years old can start swimming lessons, and it’s never too late for the adults to take lessons as well. Every member of the family should feel comfortable in the water and know what to do if they accidentally fall into the pool. To be extra safe, kids who aren’t strong swimmers should be in life jackets when they’re in or near the pool.
- Always Designate a Supervisor
There’s an old saying that when everyone is in charge, no one is in charge. To avoid any potential misunderstandings that could lead to disaster, a responsible adult who knows how to swim should be the designated supervisor of anyone in the pool, and should be within arm’s reach of young children at all times.
Jackson Pools Cares About Pool Safety
The pros at Jackson Pools want your pool to be a backyard oasis, not an accident waiting to happen. Whether you want to install a new luxury pool or a fun Backyard Resort Pool, we’ll make sure it’s up to code and meets all current safety standards. To get started, just give us a call at (239) 495-6700 or send a message through our website today.
Recent Comments