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Avoiding Swimming Pool Hazards around Children
by Carl Pensington
http://www.flxpool.com
Now that the warm weather is upon us, those who own a
swimming pool, or are thinking of having one installed,
should probably review the basic safety procedures that are
designed to keep children from becoming the victims of a
water tragedy. It only takes a moment for something to go
wrong, and this often happens when those who are designated
to supervise the children around the swimming pool become
too lax in their approach to safety. This is a common
hazard among those whose families are used to having ready
access to a pool, adults sometimes get comfortable with
the routine and aren't alert enough to potential problems.
Children are still losing their lives each year as a result
of being left alone by a swimming pool, even those who
aren't in the toddler range. When the phone rings, someone
knocks at the door or a friend calls you around to the
other side of the house, your first instinct may be to
respond to their summons, but nothing is more important
than the safety of your children. If it means leaving them
alone by the pool while you attend to one of these other
matters, you're endangering their lives, so choosing
between the two should never be an issue.
While you are spending time by the pool with the kids, and
you absolutely have to answer your phone, go for the extra
trouble and have a phone installed near the pool. You could
also get a portable phone and keep it with you near the
pool. Just yell for visitors to come to the back, instead
of answering the front door. If a neighbor calls you over
to their yard or over the fence, do the same. Never, never
leave your children unattended at the pool. If you do have
an emergency, just take the children out of the pool and
bring them with you if youstep away and there is no other
adult to watch them for you.
Some towns are now making it a law that a swimming pool
has to be separated from the house by a fence. You should
do this even if it is not a law in your town. The fence
should be at least 4 feet in height and enclose the entire
pool area. Toddlers wander away from the house and
fall into the pool, causing too many tragedies. The gate to
the pool must be self-closing to prevent this, and this
self-closing system must be beyond the reach of young
children. A life preserver and a hooked tool that will aid
in retrieval, so you should have proper rescue equipment.
When youngsters are in the pool, be sure that they have
approved life vests rather than pool toys or safety gear
that requires you to fill them with air. These can
puncture and can put the children's lives in jeopardy,
possibly causing them to drown before help can arrive.
Distance is a factor, too, and the general rule of thumb is
to always stay within an arm's length of children who are
in or near the pool. Once they've finished playing in the
water, don't make the mistake of leaving toys in or around
the area, since young children find these a great
temptation and often try to retrieve them, putting
themselves in danger, in the process.
Unless they are able to perform CPR, you should not give
anyone the responsiblity of supervising your children in a
pool. Classes are given at schools and community
organizations before the beginning of the swimming season,
and anyone who is interested can find a class. Take one of
these classes yourself and have everyone who will watch
your children do the same. Put your safety procedures in
place, and you can relax and enjoy a safe, fun summer.
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