As the summer heats up, homes in St. George are opening up their pools to family and friends. Swimming pools are fun and refreshing, especially in our desert climate, but they can pose a safety threat if used incorrectly. Take time this summer to establish and enforce safety measures to make sure your pool is safe. Here are some tips to get you started.
1. Proper Pool Security
When no one is swimming, it is important that the pool remain safe and secure so no small children or pets can fall in. Keep a cover secured over the pool, no matter how large or small, whenever no one is swimming. Install a fence around the pool, at least four feet high, to keep anyone from wandering, or falling, in. If you have small children, install door and window alarms to alert you if anyone may wander outside unsupervised.
2. Keep an Eye on Children
Children, no matter how talented of swimmers, should never swim unsupervised. Make sure an adult is present at all times. Small swimmers should never be further than an arm’s reach away from a responsible adult, even with a flotation device. Even though it isn’t always convenient, always make sure children are supervised in the pool.
3. Provide Swimming and Water Safety Lessons
Enroll your children in swimming lessons at the local pool or rec center. Providing a child the knowledge to keep them safe in the water could save their life in a stressful situation. Classes provide a fun activity during the summer, and also help kids understand how to stay safe in the water.
4. Take a CPR Course
Even though you will do everything in your power to prevent an accident, it’s a good idea to know what to do in case of one. The Red Cross offers CPR courses so that you can be prepared in case something goes wrong.
5. Proper Pool Maintenance
Keep water clean and free of debris. Make sure you use the right chemical composition for your pool so that the water is safe for kids of all ages. The chemicals you add to your pool are important, but strong. Test chlorine levels regularly to make sure you are in a clean and safe range.
6. Enforce Rules
Having a pool is a lot of fun, and no one wants to be the bad guy, but it is important to place and enforce water safety rules. Doing so can be the difference between pool safety and danger. Inform every child who swims in your pool of the rules and enforce consequences if rules are not followed. Your pool can be a lot of fun and very safe at the same time.
Use these tips to enjoy pool safety this summer! For more tips, visit PoolSafely.gov and RedCross.org.
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