In 2010, 88 people in Tennessee died from drowning; 25 of those were children. For every child who drowns, hundreds are rushed to emergency rooms in near-death scenarios. To help prevent serious injuries this summer, many agencies and officials are joining together to increase awareness of pool safety. If you own a pool, here are a few tips to keep your children safe this summer.
Before swimming:
- Teach your children basic swimming maneuvers, or enroll them in swimming lessons
- Install a four-walled, four-foot-high fence around the pool’s perimeter
- Install VGB-Compliant guards to prevent hair and limbs from getting stuck in vents and filters
- Consider installing additional security measures that send alerts when someone is in the pool
- Make sure supervising adults or teens know CPR.
While swimming:
- Make sure kids are not using foam and air-filled toys like pool noodles as flotation devices
- Avoid alcohol when monitoring children
- Enforce life jacket policies for children who need them
- Keep a phone within arm’s reach at all times
- Tell kids to slow down if they are running along the pool’s perimeter. Falling on hard concrete can cause a head injury.
These are just a few things to keep in mind during a day at the pool. Have fun, but always keep an extra eye on the pool when kids are swimming.
“When you pass through waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you…” – Isaiah 43:2