Swimming Pool Safety |
By Engineer Greg Whitman | |
May 21, 2014 | |
Summer is finally in sight, and with that, many people will be taking to the swimming pool for a cool, refreshing dip! Here are some safety guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics: What is the best way to keep my child safe around swimming pools? An adult should actively watch children at all times while they are in a pool. For infants and toddlers, an adult should be in the water and within arm’s reach, providing “touch supervision.” For older children, an adult should be paying constant attention and free from distractions, like talking on the phone, socializing, tending household chores, or drinking alcohol. The supervising adult must know how to swim. Pool Rules Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not in use. Pool Fences Children can climb out a window, though a doggy door, or sneak out a door to get to the back yard and the pool. To prevent small children from entering the pool area on their own, there should be a fence that completely surrounds the pool or spa. Combined with the watchful eyes of an adult, a fence is the best way to protect your child and other children who may visit or live nearby. Pool fences should also: Be climb-resistant and should not have anything alongside it (such as lawn furniture) that can be used to climb it. Other protection products, when used with an “isolation” fence, may be of some benefit; however, these are not substitutes for adequate fencing. These may include the following: Automatic pool covers (motorized covers operated by a switch). Pool covers should cover the entire pool so that a child can't slip under them. Make sure there is no standing water on top of the pool cover. Be aware that floating solar covers are not safety covers. Swimming Lessons - Where We Stand Children need to learn to swim. The AAP supports swimming lessons for most children 4 years and older, and for children 1 to 4 years of age who are ready to learn how to swim. Keep in mind that because children develop at different rates, each child will be ready to swim at her own time. Frequency of exposure to water While some swim programs claim to teach water survival skills to children less than 12 months old, evidence does not show that they are effective in preventing drowning. Swim lessons do not provide “drown-proofing” for children of any age, so supervision and other layers of protection are necessary even for children who have learned swimming skills. Diving Safety Serious spinal cord injuries, permanent brain damage, and death can occur to swimmers who dive into shallow water or spring upward on the diving board and hit it on the way down. Check how deep the water is. Enter the water feet first, especially when going in for the first time. Please see the attached document for a list of Swimming Classes offered in St. Mary's County this summer! |
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