Summer is approaching, and that means taking advantage of the pleasant weather and long days. There’s nothing better than taking a refreshing dip in the pool on a hot summer day, but it’s not all fun under the sun. Swimming pools can provide relief from the heat and lots of amusement, but they can also be quite dangerous, particularly for young children.
Here’s how to prevent swimming pool accidents from happening:
Get rid of trip hazards
There are just as many dangers around swimming pools as there are within it. Make sure to clear away all stray messes to reduce the risk of people tripping over them. You should also make sure that your pool deck isn’t cracked or sinking. Concrete liftingcan help stabilize and smoothen uneven areas of concrete to ensure its safety even when your loved ones are running around on it.
Always keep an eye out on children
There should always be at least one adult who can supervise and observe children without distractions. Drowning can happen quickly, so even a casual chat can result in grave consequences for any child in trouble. For extra safety precautions, this adult should also know how to do CPRin case paramedics can’t make it to the scene quickly.
Discourage diving
Even if you have a diving board, it’s better to discourage people from diving from it when there are lots of people around. They could slam into other people while diving or dive into the shallow end of the pool and injure themselves. Remember that any part of the pool that’s not as deep as six feet is too shallow for diving.
Employ the buddy system
Make sure that children always have someone to accompany them in different areas, both near the pool and in the pool. This is especially important since adults can also run into trouble and may need assistance.
Don’t swim while inebriated
A few light drinks are fine, but no more than that. Gulping down one too many drinks and swimming drunk is incredibly risky. It’s almost as hazardous to one’s health and well-being as driving under the influence. There’s a high chance you could injure yourself or drown without being aware it’s happening.
Provide safety devices
Children and adults who can’t swim well should always have safety deviceswith them such as life jackets, buoys, swim boards, and floaties. Make sure you have enough for all the people who will be swimming.
Avoid swimming during inclement weather
Swimming during inclement weather is unsafe even if you’re only swimming in a pool rather than the ocean or sea. Stray debris could injure you and you might end up drowning. It’s recommended that you keep out of the pool once you see lightning, feel any raindrops on you, or hear thunder.
A fun pool experience is a safe one. Simply remember that some accidents may still occur, no matter how careful you are. It’s important to have a first aid kit on standby and to take the necessary precautions so that you can properly respond to accidents caused by circumstances beyond your control.
