How to Stay Safe This Summer Around Your Backyard Swimming Pool

Forget the beaches! Time to hit the water and soak up the warm weather in your home swimming pools and hot tubs. Although pool house BBQs and relaxing swims are enjoyable, over hundreds of children drown in backyard swimming pools annually. Affinity Pools advises parents and pool owners to take precaution by following these tips:

• Young children must be supervised at all times. Staying in arms reach of minors can
  prevent accidents and ensure safety. Never allow children to swim alone in pools. If
  needed, have a young swimmer wear a life jacket.
• When not using the swimming pool or hot tub, place a safety cover over them to prevent children from falling in. Also, secure your pool with appropriate barriers or fencing with a self-latching and self-closing gate.
• It’s highly recommended that you enroll your children in age-appropriate swimming lessons and water orientations through your local classes.
• Keep your swimming pool clean and bacteria-free by maintaining chemical levels, filters, and circulation. Test and fix the chemical levels regularly to prevent the risk of rashes or harmful diseases.
• Establish swimming rules with your children including “no diving,” “no running around the pool,” “no swimming alone,” “no splashing,” and “stay away from drain covers.”
• Tell your children to always “swim with a buddy” and to not allow anyone to swim alone.
• Have appropriate equipment ready by the swimming pool, such as a cell phone, life jacket, first aid kit, and reaching/throwing equipment.
• Teach your household aquatic emergency steps and procedures including first aid and CPR. You can sign up for local classes in your hometown.
• Know how and when to dial 9-1-1 or the local emergency number for an aquatic emergency.

Have fun, and thanks for staying safe!