Pool Safety

Having a swimming pool in one’s own home or backyard translates to a lot of fun. But it is also important to realize that such fun entails some level of responsibility as well. A very upsetting statistic says that about 43,000 people are hurt in swimming pools and around the pool area every year, and more 600 lives are lost to drowning in home and public pools. A huge chunk of this statistic involves children, up to 2,000 children under age 5 acquire submersion injuries and up to 300 children under age 5 drown. Main cause of these accidents is lack of supervision. Therefore, it is vital for pool owners and users alike to get the low-down on pool safety.

Pool safety for kids should be at the top of the list, which is only logical following the pool accidents statistic mentioned earlier. The first practice parents should follow for child pool safety is to never leave their children unsupervised, even for a moment. If their kid is playing in and around the swimming pool, parents should make sure that their eyes are set on the child only. Now, this isn’t too hard to do, and it’s still possible to do a lot of other things like talk to friends and other parents while still watching their child closely. Children should also be kept away from pool filters as the suction force of these filters might prevent them from surfacing.

For adults, it must be made sure that they know how to swim before they are let into the pool area. Those who are only learning must be allowed to swim if and only if a good swimmer accompanies them in the pool. Electrocution cannot be risked, either, as it can injure everyone submerged in the water. For swimming pool safety, radios, mobile phones, computers, and other electrical devices must not be allowed in the pool area.

Pool safety signs should be put up around the pool area to inform pool users of what they can do to guarantee pool safety. Signs tell them the pool rules to guide bathers about safety in swimming pools. Examples of swimming pool safety signs are No Diving, No Electrical Devices, No Glassware, as well as actual depths of the water for specific spots in the pool. These signs can also be put up on the pool safety gates.

It is also necessary to remember to cover the inground pool for safety when cleaning and during colder months. For more information on pool safety, specialty stores and pool dealerships can be visited for pool safety products, such as swimming pool safety training videos, and accessories for pool safety for babies. Pool safety is campaigned in public pools by the Lifeguard Services of the City of San Diego.