Tips For Parents:
- Teach your children how to swim. We recommend having your child in swimming lessons by age 4. It is a life skill.
- Teach children how to tread water, float, and get out of the pool.
- For those who are not strong swimmers, coast guard-approved flotation devices should be required. Do not rely on “water wings” or other inflatable toys.
- Be aware that teaching your children to swim with a life jacket on will give them a false sense of security.
- Don’t rely on water wings or other inflatable toys. If your child can’t swim, stay within an arm’s reach.
- Take a class in First Aid and CPR (for infants, children, and adults).
- Teach children not to play with or around pool or hot tub drains and drain covers.
- If you see a drain cover that is loose, broken or missing, do not enter the pool and notify the owner/operator.
- Tie up long hair securely to protect from drain entanglement.
- Never take your eyes off of children in the pool — even for a moment!
- If you’re in a group, appoint a designated “water watcher,” taking turns with other adults.
- Empty smaller backyard pools when not in use.
- While supervising, stay alert and avoid distractions like reading or the telephone.
- If house forms a side of the pool barrier, install alarms on the doors that lead to the pool area.
- Never dive in to water less than nine feet deep.
- Keep gates to the pool area latched.
- Use a safety cover on larger backyard pools when they are not in use.
- Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not being used since toys can attract children to the pool area.
- Make sure water of any pool/spa is clear.
- You should always be able to see the bottom of a pool or spa. If you can’t, inform the owner/operator.
- Look for lifesaving equipment by the pool.
For more information on drowning and entrapment, please click here.