Last Updated on July 18, 2019
Swimming Pool Safety
Swimming can be great fun, great exercise or a great stress reliever. When you’re lucky enough to have your own swimming pool, it’s wise to take certain precautions to ensure the safety of all who may swim in it. Being prepared for swimming pool emergencies is like owning a fire extinguisher. You don’t constantly worry about fires, but you know how to handle one if it ever did happen.
If you think about, or obsessively worry about, the possibility of young children or pets taking an accidental splash, make the safe decision of putting a fence around your pool.
CPR Certification
When I worked as a nanny, I took a CPR and AED combination course each year. It takes less than an hour, and even though my kids were great swimmers, I was more comfortable on our trips to the pool and beach. While it is widely accepted that mouth-to-mouth resuscitation isn’t necessary for cardiovascular episodes, the opposite is true for drowning. That’s why it is a great idea to store a CPR kit that contains a mouth barrier near your pool if you should need to administer rescue breaths. Having two family members trained in CPR is a great idea. Two-rescuer CPR allows for a smoother process without exhausting an individual rescuer.
Basic Swim Lessons
This should be a no-brainer, but just to really emphasize it, NO person, child or adult, should be left unattended in or near a pool if they can’t swim. Simply taking a few hours out of your week could save the lives of your children. Not to mention how adorable it is to see toddlers learning to blow bubbles in the pool during their first swim lessons. Even once you’re comfortable swimming unassisted, no one should ever swim alone. Set a household rule that requires a buddy to accompany you in the pool. This will ensure that if anyone was ever accidentally injured, or worse, his or her swimming buddy would be there to help or call for help.
Fence It In
Not everyone has a mischievous yet loveable St. Bernard to rescue wandering children who take a tumble into their swimming pool. If you think about, or obsessively worry about, the possibility of young children or pets taking an accidental splash, make the safe decision of putting a fence around your pool. Find the perfect style to go with your home’s exterior and make sure it has a self-latching gate. Now both kids and hydrophobic pets are free to safely play outside.
The list of pool safety suggestions could go on and on. These are just a few of the basics. Just remember that when you have your own swimming pool, you have extra responsibility. You don’t have the luxury of paid lifeguards. Make sure everyone who swims knows to keep an eye on each other and watch for any signs of danger. Working together with all who swim will make for a fun and safe day at the pool. (Shelley Davenport is a copywriter for On Time Elmer Swimming Pool Co. in San Antonio, Texas. A former nanny, Shelley loves sharing tips about safety, child care and fun activities.)
