Tips for Pool Safety This Summer

When the heat rises, the pool calls—but despite all the cool, fun times you can have there, there’s also the possibility of danger, especially for certain people and critters who can’t look out for themselves. Make sure the poolside is safe for all by keeping these tips for pool safety this summer in mind and sharing them with those who most need to hear them.

Think of Those Who Can’t Look After Themselves

Two kinds of living beings need extra help in staying safe around the pool: young children and pets. Little kids, of course, require constant vigilance and should not be allowed to play near the pool unobserved. When not in use, keep a safety cover over your pool and its gutter (if the gutter has a cover.) The cover can’t be easily removed and supports heavy weights. Remove entry points, such as the ladder for above-ground pools. Pets can require special effort to protect from drowning or injury, especially if they’re not your own. Other than a safety cover, if you have an outdoor pool, fence it off from the rest of the neighborhood so water-seeking critters won’t slip in and become trapped.

Teach Kids Drain Safety

Drains can be deadly to smaller children. Drains generate a tremendous amount of suction, with can cause any number of horrific injuries or even death. If your pool doesn’t have safety covers over the drains, have them installed. Even then, tell kids to avoid playing near the drains, which can trap bodies, body parts, hair, jewelry, and so on. Ask children with long hair to wear caps or to tie up their hair and tell them to leave necklaces and other jewelry outside the pool. While they should never play unattended, let them know where the off switch is for the pump, just in case.

Swimming Lessons Are a Must

Don’t buy a pool unless everyone in your household knows how to swim. This will ensure they know how to save themselves—or if they can’t, there’s someone nearby who can. Most communities feature park districts and swimming schools that can teach children and adults basic strokes, endurance, water safety, and even life-saving techniques. Swimming is a life skill that everyone should have.

Train in CPR

One of the biggest tips for pool safety this summer is taking a course in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Just like learning to swim, CPR and First Aid certification should be a family goal. In case of drowning, CPR can keep a person’s blood flowing, which in turn keeps the brain alive until healthcare providers arrive and take over.