April 29, 2011 — The weather is heating up and summer activities are around the corner. Here are a few reminders to keep your kids safe this summer in the water.
- Check your pool fencing or pool cover if you have one. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 sides of the pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your children’s reach.
- A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) may add to the protection of your children but should not be used in place of the fence between your house and the pool.
- Review pool rules with your children and review them again when ever there are guests (children and adults) using the pool. No diving head first into the shallow sections of the pool. No swimming alone. No running, pushing or shoving.
- If you own a pool, make sure you are current on your CPR certification.
- If you are planning any pool parties, make sure there is a designated adult at all times who is in charge of acting as the lifeguard. Adults can take turns and have a special big or colorful hat for the designated lifeguard to wear so everyone can clearly identify who is the acting lifeguard.
- “Floaties” or other air-filled swimming aids are not recommended. These may serve as a crutch to make adults and young children think they are safe. Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm’s length of the child at all times.
- Get out the sunscreen and lip protection for your children and be diligent about applying and re-applying. Look at the Environmental Working Group Sunscreen report here.
Also read our other article posted on guidelines for sunscreen use for infants under 6 months of age here.