As the weather warms up, we thought we'd share some practical pool safety tips so that you and your family can enjoy a cool dip this Memorial Day weekend and on into the long days of summer.
According to the CPSC, from 2009 to 2011, there was an annual average of 5,200 pool or spa-related emergency department-treated submersion injuries for children younger than 15.
It's important to have several protective layers of pool safety, including CPR and first aid skills. Plus kids in and around pools should be under constant adult supervision, and young children should take swimming lessons so they can get themselves out of trouble if they fall in the water.
Pool safety tips:
- Alarms: Any door leading from the house to the pool area should have an alarm that sounds when the door is opened. Pools should also have pool alarms that sound both at the pool and in the house if a child falls into the water.
- Covers: When not in use for extended periods of time, pools should be securely covered.
- Drains: Pool drains should have safety covers that prevent entrapment.
- Fencing: A non-climbable fence, a minimum of 4 feet high, should surround the pool. The gate on the fence should be self-closing, self latching, and lockable.
For more tips see our report Keeping kids safe around pools.
Also be wary of pool toys that could pose a safety hazard. We recently reported a recall of inflatable pool slides sold at Walmart and Toys R Us, that could deflate while in use, posing a serious injury hazard. According to the CPSC, there had been at least three cases where the pool slides maimed or killed swimmers.
Related:
Pool safety comes to your smart phone
Low-cost pools pose hazards to children
Source:
Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives [CPSC]
New CPSC Data Show Child Drownings In Pools and Spas Still A Leading Cause of Death [CPSC]
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