Keep Your Children Safe at the Swimming Pool

The greatest gift you can give your children is a sense of security around water. Before you visit the neighbors pool or greatest venue, check out these tips

Children and parents look forward to the end of the school year. Families shed winter blues and winter coats in exchange for swimming suits and sunny days at the beach and neighborhood pools. Going to the pool is a highlight of summertime activities. It is of what classroom daydreams are made.

There is a disappointing truth which accompanies this summer activity. With warmer weather comes the startling awareness, that drowning is the number one cause of death for children ages fourteen and under. This is according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Commission also reports this unfortunate statistic; accidental drowning in children has gone from number four to the number one cause of death.

Whiling away summer hours under the sun, swimming in the neighborhood or backyard pool carries with it a calculated risk. Swimming pools pose the greatest risk of drowning deaths, more than accidental drowning in bathtubs and the like. Children who haven’t learned to swim are obviously at greater risk, compared to those who can swim. However, children who know how to swim drown every summer. The Center for Disease Control, and the CPSC, reports that per year, there were nearly 300 fatal drownings for children ages five and under. Over 2000 children were treated in emergency rooms for related injuries. (Near drowning, or submersion type injuries) Please understand that when a child is submerged for even a small length of time, damage to the brain can occur. So, even if a child does not drown, but nearly drowns, the statistics and related outcome are devastating. The statistics stated above represent a three year span (2005-2007.) The sad truth of the matter is, since that time, kids who drown in the United States have increased.

Now that you are sufficiently scared out of your wits, utilize the following suggestions to help keep your family safe in the pool or at the beach this summer.

• Parents and other adults must take charge of children’s water activities.A study by the CDC reported these findings on how swimmers view their swimming proficiency; “… younger swimmers report greater swimming proficiency than older respondents. Kids tend to overestimate their swimming ability and get into situations that they can’t yet handle. Young children are often unable to imagine harm or injury coming to them and may see themselves as invincible…” Do not be complacent when it comes to your child’s swimming ability. Be proactive. You decide when he is ready to swim in the deep end. You decide if he is ready to attend a birthday pool party. You set the bar for your child.

• Teach your child to swim as soon as developmentally feasible. The risk of drowning goes down for the child who can swim to the side of the pool, and hold on until an adult can fish him out.

• Never, ever, for any reason, leave your child unattended while swimming. A split second is all it takes for your child to get into trouble in the pool. Near drowning is nearly as devastating as the child who actually succumbs to drowning.

• Do not be merely present, but diligent while attending your child at the pool. As incredible as it seems, children drown while adults are present. A number of people gathered around the pool do not ensure safety. Someone has to be diligently observing pool activity.

• Do not allow your child to swim in a neighborhood pool where a lifeguard is not on duty. The same goes for an unguarded beach. Families should only swim in view of the lifeguard tower.

• If you are fortunate enough to have a pool, secure it with a fence, and locked gate. This aids to secure your children and neighborhood children who may yield to the temptation of an open pool on a hot day. Do not become over confident that your pool is fenced in and locked. From inside your home install an alarm that will sound should your toddler wander out into the fenced in pool area.

• Remove toys from the pool when your children are not swimming. Children will attempt to remove toys while standing on the side of the pool. This is particularly dangerous for toddlers. Their bodies are built like little torpedoes. Their heads being larger than their body’s make it easier for them to topple into the pool.

• Keep a phone by the pool only in case of an emergency. Do not spend time on the phone while watching your children in the pool. It is a distraction.

• Learn CPR in case, despite your best efforts, an emergency situation occurs.Knowing the terrible statistics of drowned children do not be crippled with fear.
Take your children to the pool or beach this summer, and have a great time. However, do not be fooled into thinking “it will never happen to me.” Take every precaution.