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Every year I see the same heart breaking headlines about a child losing his or her life in a pool or pond. This year is no different. I wish I never had to read another headline about the death of a child to water related accidents. These types of accidents are so preventable. Some dangerous things are so obvious yet nobody ever thinks about them, so kids wind up dead because of it.
Never leave a child unattended in the water or pool area for any reason.
Don't be distracted by doors, phone calls, chores or conversations.
If you must leave the pool area, take the child with you, making sure the pool gate latches securely when it closes.
Always keep your eyes on the child or children. Designate a child watcher, whether you or someone else, when you attend a party or have friends or family over.
Talk with baby-sitters and other caretakers about pool safety, supervision and drowning prevention. Post rules such as "No running," "No pushing," "No dunking" and "Never swim alone." and enforce the rules.
Don't depend on swimming lessons or "floating toys" to protect children in the water.
Don't assume that drowning couldn't happen to you or your family.
Don't get a false sense of security just because you think your pool area and home are secure.
Always watch your children, whether in the house or outside.
Attend a CPR class. Make sure your baby-sitter knows CPR. Post CPR instructions and the 911 emergency number in the pool area.
Keep lifesaving equipment, such as a pole, life preserver and rope in the pool area. Hang them from the fence so people won't trip on them.
Don't allow children to play in the pool area.
Remove all toys, or anything a child might want to go in after from the pool area.
Have a phone handy to the pool area. Do not use the phone while your children are in the pool; use the phone only to call 911 should a problem occur.
Encourage your neighbors to follow pool safety guidelines, including keeping their gates and doors locked, and their pool gates securely closed and latched.
Make sure they don't have lumber or other things stacked against a pool fence. A kid could easily use those things to gain access to a locked pool.
Here are some startling statistics:
60% are children ages 6 months - 4 years old.
75% drown in their own swimming pools.
85% drown at the victim's or a friend's home.
75% of the time the attributed cause is poor supervision & no pool barrier.
In 77% of child drownings, the child was out of sight for 5 minutes or less.
Most Kids under 6 were being supervised by one or both parents.
Most Kids are found in their own pool with their clothes on.
This summer have fun, but please don't let your kids become another statistic.
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