Pool Safety Tips to Keep Your Children Safe This Summer

As summer weather and holidays draw near, it is a good time to review swimming pool safety, whether at home, public pools, or on vacation, to keep family members safe.

It is important to know the legal rights and liabilities in connection with swimming injuries if a privately owned home has a swimming pool. One of the most critical pool safety rules is to watch children at all times to be sure they are safe, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and its Pool Safely safety campaign. Knowledge of CPR and basic first aid skills are a tremendous asset if an injury does occur. For residents in Central Florida, click here to find additional CPR classes in your area. Citizen CPR, Inc. is located in Polk County, Florida and CPR classes are available in a group or private class setting.

As a homeowner, it is important to know the basic safety rules that must be followed to prevent guests and family members from being accidentally injured, An average of 385 children under fifteen years of age died annually in the U.S. from 2005 through 2007 due to a pool or spa drowning, according to the CPSC.

The following are a few key safety tips:

• Do not allow children to run or play at the edge of the pool
• Teach children or young visitors they should never go near the water if an adult is not nearby
• It is important to know CPR and how to properly and quickly respond to any emergency in the pool, spa, or hot tub
• Do not allow the use of glass dishware or bottles near the pool to prevent injuries
• Restrict consumption of alcohol around the pool, especially for adults who are supervising children
• Make sure children are aware of the pool safety rules and that any child that swims in the pool knows how to properly swim
• Use a property-sized pool cover when the pool is unoccupied for protection from possible accidental drawings
• Use proper handrails and ladders to ensure a safe exit from the pool
• Mark water depths on the sides of the pool so visitors understand the depth
• If the pool has a diving board, make sure it is sufficiently deep to protect from serious diving injuries

In addition, portable above-ground pools offer their own hazards, according to the CPSC. “Portable pools are affordable, transportable, but can be just as dangerous as any other pool,” the agency reported. Just like in-ground pools, portables need barriers and fencing that keep unsupervised children out. Empty and store small portable pools when they are not being used.

The summer swimming season is a fun time for a family to gather for relaxing times. Making sure that pool safety rules are always followed will help prevent pool-related injuries and accidents and minimize pool dangers.

If your child has been injured in a pool-related accident due to someone else’s negligence, contact Burnetti. P.A.’s Florida personal injury lawyers at (888) 444-8508.