At last spring has sprung. The plants are beginning to leaf and flower buds are forming under the warming sun. We find ourselves standing ever closer to the window and to the swimming pool. It is that time of year again to think of swimming safety. Set your mind at ease, it only takes a few precautionary steps to insure your family can safely enjoy their summer in the pool.
Insure the barrier fencing around the pool meets state codes, all gates self close and latch and door alarms are installed and working properly. Keep a Life Preserver Ring and a Grab Pole handy at all times.
Never leave children unattended in the swimming pool. A good procedure is to prepare all of the needs of the day before opening the pool and make arrangements to close the pool or provide supervision during necessary trips inside the house. It is also a great idea to have a telephone installed at the pool site or to make sure a portable phone is available.
Most people learn to swim through trial and error. A much better idea is to invest in swimming lessons for the whole family. Children learn quickly and that makes the swimming experience much safer and enjoyable. Many health clubs and public pools provide swimming lessons for a very reasonable fee. Even private lessons are reasonably priced. Small or inexperienced swimmers should always wear some sort of approved life vest.
In addition to this brief reminder the internet provides a wealth of information for parents and pool owners to guide them with additional safety information. Visit www.swimsafelysacramento.com for tips and links to other sites that provide more resources and products to keep your family safe.
Also visit the National Safety Council, Red Cross, Association of Pool and Spa Professionals ("Remember children are not waterproof") and the Pool and Spa Education Council for their information as well.
IT TAKES LESS THAN 5 MINUTES AND UNDER 2 INCHES OF WATER FOR A CHILD TO DROWN
Swimming accidents claim the lives of over 1,000 children each year and accidents in swimming pools account for over 1/3 of the fatalities. Thousands of adults will also die or suffer catastrophic injury as a result of swimming mishaps.
Owners of private "backyard" pools have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for children and adults alike and need to focus on accident prevention. Some of the essential safeguards listed below are based on common sense and should be implemented immediately by every pool owner.
1. Do not accept the responsibility of pool ownership until you have successfully completed a CPR training course.
2. Make sure everyone in your household learns how to swim and is knowledgeable in pool safety.
3. Never allow anyone, child or adult, swimmer or non-swimmer, to enter the pool unless a responsible person is accompanying them.
4. Never leave an accessible pool unattended. Remember, a child can drown in less than 5 minutes.
5. Never leave swimming toys in the pool. They are too inviting for a young child.
6. Insist that your adult guests supervise their children at all times.
7. Never let intoxicated guests enter your pool.
8. Remove the diving board from your private backyard pool. The risk of injury is too great.
9. Surround your pool by a fence of no less than 5 feet in height and make sure that the gate is equipped with a self-closing lock positioned beyond the reach of children.
10. Cover your pool when it isn't in use.
11. Keep essential life saving gear accessible, visible, and in proper working condition.
12. Never assume that "floaties" and other floatation devices will protect you from drowning.
13. Install an alarm system on the gate or pool to warn you that the pool area has been entered. You can also purchase wrist alarms for your children that will set off a signal if your child enters the pool.
14. Develop a list of pool rules and insist that every one knows them and follows them.
15. Make sure your homeowner's insurance policy includes coverage that will protect you against liability lawsuits resulting from swimming pool injuries.
Don't rely on posting signs such as "swim at your own risk", "too shallow to dive", etc., to protect you against a lawsuit. Your swimming pool may be considered an "attractive nuisance" which means that people, especially children, will find it too tempting to resist. You must realize that anyone who is injured in your pool, even if they are trespassing, may have the legal right to file a claim against you for any damages resulting from injuries received while in your pool. It is, therefore, crucial that your homeowners' insurance policy specifically acknowledges the existence of a pool and protects you against any liability - regardless of the circumstances.
Public pools such as community pools and hotel/motel pools are also subject to the same guidelines. If you have been injured in a swimming pool accident, you may be able to file a "premises liability" claim against the responsible party of any pool if you can prove the following:
Insure the barrier fencing around the pool meets state codes, all gates self close and latch and door alarms are installed and working properly. Keep a Life Preserver Ring and a Grab Pole handy at all times.
Also visit the National Safety Council, Red Cross, Association of Pool and Spa Professionals ("Remember children are not waterproof") and the Pool and Spa Education Council for their information as well.