Saturday, August 1, 2009

Swimming Pool Safety For Children

By Marion Rose Jones

Having a swimming pool on your property can be a great way to have fun for yourself and your entire family. However, despite that, it can also be very dangerous if you have children around. If you have the patience, you should wait until your kids are at least five years old or more before you put a swimming pool on your property. On the other hand, if you already have a swimming pool, there are ways that you can protect your children.

One thing you should always keep in mind is to never, ever, permit your children to be alone near your pool. Children are attracted to water and all it takes is a slip for them to fall into the swimming pool. If you and your children are at your pool side and you have to leave the area even for a second, you should always take your children with you.

To be completely safe, you should always ensure that you have plenty of safety equipment around your pool at all times. Safety items are essential to have around, as they could save the life of a child or anyone else who can't swim.

You should invest in a shepherd's crook as well, because you can employ it to pull someone out of the pool. Having a telephone at your pool is also a wise investment, as you can quickly call for help in the event of an emergency.

If you don't already have a fence around your pool you should look into making one. A fence is a great way to keep children from your pool. If you have a protective fence up, you won't have to worry about little children falling in, while you are away from the pool. When you put your fence up, you should always make sure that it's at least 6 foot high, with a locking gate. This way, no one can get into the pool without a key, which you should keep with you at all times.

You should learn CPR too. Even though you hopefully will not ever have to use it. It is always good to know CPR in the event of someone falling in your pool that is unable to swim. Whenever you have children you know can't swim at your pool, you should always stay within reach of them, so you can react instantly if they fall in. A minute can be all it takes to save someone's life.

Always keep in mind that swimming is fun, although you have to always think in terms of safety first. Once you have finished using your pool for the day, make sure that you lock up the area well - and lock the gate up tight so no one can get in.

About the Author:

No comments: