Swimming Pool Safety For Kids

by Francis Lowe⁽⁴⁾
http://www.poolwarehouseuk.com/

Playing in water can be a fun activity for the whole family, especially kids, but the dangers can be fatal. Every year In the UK alone, something in the region of 40 children under the age of 14, die from accidental drowning. If you have a swimming pool it is crucial to put multiple safety measures in place to keep children safe. Please read and act on the following safety advice for your swimming pool.

The most basic and most important rule is supervision. Always closely supervise children at all times. Even if your child is a strong swimmer, they should never be left unsupervised. Adequate supervision means that a responsible adult, preferably with First Aid training is available to give un-distracted attention to the pool and its users.

Access to the pool must be controlled, otherwise kids can enter the pool without supervision. This is just as applicable to teenagers as it is to toddlers who don't know what they are doing. Without restricted access toddlers could just wander into a dangerous situation, whilst teenagers could use the pool at any times. There are a range of products which restrict access to the pool, keeping unsupervised users out. A fence surrounding the entire perimeter of the pool is essential, and in many countries, although not yet the UK, is compulsory. This fence should be at least four feet high and have a gate with a self-closing and self-latching gate that young children cannot open on their own. Use gates with locks and alarms to keep children out when adults are not present.

Telescopic glass enclosures are available which enclose the whole pool. The sections can be locked in place to prevent access and all the doors have locks.

Another option is safety covers. A heavy weight PVC cover that will take the weight of a child and prevent the child from getting underneath the edges is highly recommended. Standard winter debris covers or solar covers are not sufficient for this purpose.

Pool alarms are also available. These are designed to sit on the surface of the pool. They are triggered by excessive movement, so if someone fell into the pool whilst the alarm is on, it will be activated. One of the downsides of these is that people have been known to be lulled into a false sense of security, ignoring all other safety factors. Any such alarms should be used as a back-up safety measure, and definitely not the one and only safety measure.

Before you allow children to use the pool you should set water safety rules for the whole family based on swimming abilities. For example, children who are not good swimmers should be told not to go deeper than their chest height. Children should be taught to respect the water, and be aware of the hazards of dangerous play. Swimmers should be banned from diving and rough dunking.

Lastly, have a plan for what to do in an emergency. Keep a phone nearby so you can call for help. It is essential to have some First Aid experience, preferably with CPR. Hopefully you will never need to use it, but this is something that can make the difference between life and death in an emergency.

To see a full range of pool equipment, including solar covers and pool covers please see the website of specialist supplier poolwarehouseuk.com

Article submitted Sunday, January 15, 2012 & read 2 times.

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