Backyard swimming pool promises endless summer fun, but it also comes with a huge responsibility to keep the fast, fearless little ones out of harm and prevent drowning.

Swimming pools and other water activities can be a lot of fun but they can also be dangerous. Swimming pool drowning is the second leading cause of death in children. Every year nearly 1,000 children drown, most of them drown in home swimming pools.

Pool safety tips

There are many ways to stay safe while you are around water. It is essential to teach water safety from a very early age. You must stay safe with these pool safety tips:

Adult Supervision

When children are around water, be it in the pool or the bathtub, they need your undivided attention. As tempting as it may seem to multi-task at the pool, it is crucial to keep an eye on your little ones all the time. Not only it is safer, but you will have more fun together. Children, and especially toddlers and infants, should be within arms reach so that you can quickly react if there is a problem. A small child can drown in as little as one inch of water. Do not assume that if a child knows how to swim that they are immune from danger. Keep an eye close on big children too.

Be Careful

From an early age, you must teach your kids about water safety. Teach them to swim in designated swimming areas where an adult can watch them. Make sure your children are aware of the rules of the pool, like “no running” and “no diving.” You can point out the lifeguards, and let your children know they are there to help in case of an emergency. Lifeguards can help you out but nobody can replace parents who can always be close.

Safety Devices

Make sure to use proper safety devices. Only use approved life vests especially on boats or in open water. Intertubes and arm floaties are not rated for safety and do not help to prevent drowning. You must make your child wear coast-guard approved life vests, especially on boats or in open water.

Learn CPR

Take the time to learn about CPR and make sure you understand how to perform it properly. CPR training can give you peace of mind and it is a skill that you can use outside the pool too. If you have older kids they can learn CPR too. You never know when you might need it.

Stay Away From Drains

The reason is that there is a chance someone can get caught on a drain, especially pools with a flat drain. You can get anti-entrapment drains in your pool if you are looking for peace of mind. However, kids must stay away from all kinds of drains.

Protect Your Skin

It is crucial to protect your skin while you are in the pool as well. The water reflects the rays of the sun and makes it easier to get a sunburn. Make sure you cover up with glasses, hats, and clothing.

Swimming Lessons

Enroll your child in swimming lessons when they are ready. It is usually recommended that swim lessons start by the age of 4. If your kid is older than 4 it’s not too late. Even if your child can get around in the pool it is a great idea to take a refresher class every summer. Do not let your child’s progress in lessons make you relax when watching them around the pool.

Conclusion

You must be vigilant when it comes to pool safety. Out of all the tips mentioned above adult supervision is essential. Do not use your cell phone when you are watching them instead play with them. You’ll have a great time.

Apart from this you can also install a pool fence for even better pool safey.