Summer and all its warm magic days are right around the corner. Who doesn’t love to be outside all day long enjoying the sun and partaking in all of the activities that are just waiting for you?
With so many backyard activities to look forward to, the last thing you even want to think about is any kind of an accident happening, especially where children are concerned.
Sadly, drownings in backyard swimming pools occur every year. It is a leading cause of death in young children and can occur quickly and quietly. So, how can you prepare yourself for those warm-weather days?
Here are some helpful tips on how you can better childproof your pool.
Teach Your Child to Swim
This is so important and should be on every parent’s priority list. Children love to be in pool water in the summer, and should know how to navigate their way around the pool easily. Swimming lessons are available in every town and some are even provided as a free service to your children.
Kids should be familiar with the basics of first aid and emergencies, too. It’s never too young to start.
Pool Safety for Kids
Rule #1 for young children is that they always be supervised, otherwise, they don’t get to go in the pool or anywhere near it.
Most in-ground pools require a fence around it, and even if you have an above-ground pool, be sure to fence it in. The fence should be at least 4 feet high with no access areas that children can get to easily.
Establish rules for the pool. This means “no diving” for instance, or no bringing friends in without your knowledge and their parents, too. No one should ever be in the pool alone.
Pool Safety Tips
Always keep your pool clean. Who wants to step into dirty water, anyway? It is so important to have proper filtration and chemical levels in your pool.
Pool covers are another great way to ensure extra protection in your backyard. There are a variety of pool covers; vinyl, mesh or even an automatic cover.
You may want to obtain a pool alarm, too. These alarms are designed to sense if a child falls into the pool.
A pool is lots of fun, but is also a big responsibility. Common sense goes a long way to ensuring a great time. Safeguard—so that your summer will only be filled with good pool fun.
