Everyone Out of the Pool

Regrettably, drowning has become the third leading cause of accidental death in children. Because of this, it is important for kids to be aware of the rules related to water safety. It is also important to get a child into swimming lessons as soon as possible, at least by the age of three. These lessons will not mean that your child will be safe to swim or bathe unattended, but it will help him to become more confident in the water, avoiding panic situations.

Once again, a key safety rule is to always swim with a responsible adult watching. There are more and more devices making this a reality than ever before. Cordless phones mean that the adult will not have to run inside to answer a phone call, leaving the child alone. If, for some reason, an adult has to go inside, the children in the pool should get out and away from the pool. Small children can not be counted on to stay out of the pool, simply because an adult told them to do so.

As for rescue equipment, just like inflatable water toys are not life preservers in a river, they cannot be counted on to save lives in a pool. Make sure whichever pool you are swimming in has a life preserver hanging in plain view. The device should be approved by the United States Coast Guard.

Though there aren't many laws about keeping life preservers around pools, an increasing number of states and municipalities are enacting laws that require pool owners to have a locking gate and fence surrounding their pools. Many children have wandered silently away from their homes, only to be found later, drowned in a family pool. You can help by suggesting to adults that maybe smaller kids would be safer if they had a fence, at least five feet high, around their pool. In the case of "doughboy" or above-ground pools, there are also inexpensive "ladder locks" that can render the ladder unusable to small children while in use. Also, many parents aren't aware that if they have a doggie door leading to the pool area, that young children have been known to exit to the pool through them.

If you can't swim, staying in the shallow end is not assurance enough that you will not be harmed. Many pools have slippery spots on the bottom surface (whether from repairs or a liner worn from years of chlorine), and you could be walking along and go under from one of these spots, rather easily. Children who are not confident in the water should wear water wings, and always be within a few feet of an alert adult.

Never dive unless you are sure of how to do so, and have been told by an adult that the water is deep enough. Some public pools do not allow diving at all, and this rule should always be respected, as water levels may look deeper than they are, or there may be another swimmer crossing your path when you dive - resulting in injury to both of you.

Other pools also forbid what they call "horseplay". This means reckless, silly play that can often result in a collision with other swimmers. While swimming should be fun for all, it can't be if there are a few individuals thrashing around, splashing everyone within range, knocking into other swimmers, jumping in from unexpected places, screaming in everyone's ears and more. Horseplay distracts everyone in the pool, which puts them off guard to safety issues. Have fun, but don't get crazy.

A rule posted at most public pools, that stands at ALL pools, public or private, is the "no running around the pool" rule. Water on the concrete or grass around the pool creates a slippery surface. When people run around a pool and slip, they run the risk of hitting their head or breaking a limb on the rock-hard edge of the pool. They can also fall, head first, into a shallow area of the pool, risking a broken neck or drowning. They may fall on someone already in the pool, or by trying to regain their balance, inadvertently knock someone else into the water.

Whatever pool you're in, always keep an eye on kids smaller than you, or ones that aren't as good at swimming. The adults or lifeguards in charge have much to look at, and you might notice something they don't. Also, smaller kids don't know safety rules as well as you, so you can help them become more educated.

At public pools, the lifeguards are always in charge. Make sure you listen to their instructions. They've taken courses on keeping swimmers safe.

Swimming pools are some of the most refreshing and fun places to be on a hot summer day. Everyone in the pool has a responsibility to make sure it stays that way by following proper safety guidelines.

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