subject: Cpr Healthcare - Swimming Pool Safety Begins In Your Own Backyard [print this page] At parks and beaches, you will find fences, barriers and qualified lifeguards on duty to maintain swimmers and their families safe. Regrettably, many household pools don't have the exact same safety measures in place.
Without correct poolside safety measures, summer activities could rapidly turn tragic.
"Every year, much more than 250 children under the age of 5 are drowning victims, frequently in their own backyards," said John Drengenberg, manager of consumer affairs for Underwriters Laboratories Inc., a not-for-profit product safety certification organization.
Drengenberg says a child in trouble might not be in a position to alert anyone by splashing or yelling for assist.
"We all need to be more conscious and attentive whenever our families are around a swimming pool," said Drengenberg. He provides these tips for keeping your summer pool parties safe.
* Follow the "10/20 swimming pool patrol" principle. Anytime kids are in the water, have an adult on pool patrol. A supervising adult needs to become in a position to scan the entire swimming pool each and every 10 seconds and reach the water within 20 seconds.
* Should you own a pool, learn infant and child CPR and make sure your children take swimming training.
* If a child is missing and a swimming pool is in the region, do not squander valuable time searching elsewhere: Usually check the swimming pool first.
* Install a fence that's at least 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching gate that has a locking mechanism beyond a child's reach. The fence ought to totally separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard.
* Remove any overhanging tree limbs, chairs or ladders from the area to prevent kids from climbing over the fence surrounding the pool. For above-ground pools, get rid of ladders and portable steps.
* Think about adding a pool motion sensor and gate alarms to alert you to anybody approaching or jumping into the swimming pool.
* Don't forget a pool cover. Power security covers are recommended for in-ground pools.
* Keep rescue devices for example life preservers at poolside. Also, have a telephone nearby and appropriate emergency numbers posted.
* Remove all toys whenever you leave the swimming pool. Floats, balls and other toys may attract children to the unattended pool.
* Usually empty wading pools after your kids are finished playing. Infants can drown in just a few inches of water.
