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Top Ten Pool Safety Tips for Children for Safe Fun this Summer

Its summer time on Long Island, so you know it will be hot and muggy. What better way to beat the heat and have fun then to dive into a pool? We’re a personal injury law firm, so we are ever aware of the risks involved, even in fun activities. According to the Center for Disease Control, about one in five people who die from drowning are age 14 and younger. For every child who dies from drowning, another five receive emergency department care for nonfatal submersion injuries. We want to have fun, but that requires being safe too. So we offer these Top Ten Pool Safety Tips for Children.

 

Keeping Fun Safe: Top Ten Pool Safety Tips for Children

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1.      If It is Your Pool, Keep it Safe: If you have a pool at your home, it is your obligation to keep it safe and secure. Ensure that a fence surrounds the pool. Check your local zoning requirements for minimum fence height requirements. Four feet is usually the minimum, though a six foot fence is preferable. Make sure that the gates are self-closing and self-latching. Test gates and latches on any pool your kids use to make sure they’re well maintained and work properly.

2.      If It is Not Your Pool, Check Fences and Gates: Every pool needs to have a fence and gate that can lock, but if you are visiting a pool, say at a hotel, double check to make sure the fence and gate are secure.  Make sure the fence is high enough and does not have any openings. Make sure the gate locks when there is no lifeguard.

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3.      Teach Your Children Water Safety, the Earlier the Better: This will be obvious, but studies show that children who have received even basic swim lessons are less likely to drown.

4.      Keep an Eye on Children at All Times: As parents, we all know the times when we say, “but I thought you were watching her.” Be absolutely clear who is watching each child.

5.      Put Away the Distractions: If you are watching children in or near a pool, put away the distractions. That means putting down the cell phone, tablet, book or magazine. Please do not think this is an overreaction.  According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, 88 percent of young drowning victims were under some form of supervision at the time they drowned — and in a startling 46 percent of cases, the child who drowned was under the supervision of both parents.

6.      Be a Buddy to Your Child: Keep your child with you at all times. If you need to leave the pool area – to make a phone call or use the bathroom – take your child with you. Never leave your child alone in the pool.

7.      Don’t Tempt Children – Take Toys Out of the Pool When Not Using the Pool: A giant floating turtle or other blow up toys and those colorful Styrofoam “noodles” are giant attractions for young children. Why provide a temptation? (What lawyers call an attractive nuisance.) When you leave the pool, take the toys out too. Take them out of the pool.

8.      Sunscreen: Using sunscreen today won’t save your life today, but it may in the future. Use sunscreen with a rating of 30 SPF or better. Spread it on generously and re-apply.

9.      Enforce the Rules - It’s Okay to be a Party Pooper:  The rules posted at most pools – no running and no diving – are there for a reason. Your kids may beg and say everyone is doing it, but you are the adult. Enforce the rules. They’ll still have fun and they’ll be safe. Thanks to you.

10.  Learn CPR: Even when we do everything right, tragic accidents can occur. Learn CPR so if confronted with a drowning you can take quick action that might mean the difference between life and death. The Red Cross offers an online directory of CPR classes, though many local organizations (hospitals, fire departments, schools, etc.) offer free CPR classes.

We hope you found this information helpful and that you have a safe and fun summer. 

The Schlitt Law Firm
Long Island Personal Injury Attorney
1-800-660-1466
Contact@SchlittLaw.com

This material is intended for informational uses only. It is not meant as legal advice. To receive legal advice, you should consult an attorney. Remember, past results do not guarantee similar outcomes in the future.

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