Developing your family's pool safety plan
It is recommended that every family has a pool safety plan for their backyard pool! This plan includes adding safety features to pool barriers, establishing pool rules in your home, recognizing what drowning looks like and what signs to watch for, knowing when it's time to call 911, and learning CPR.
What is keeping your child away from the pool?
Have you ever stopped to think about whether or not your child can access your pool without you knowing?
- A four-sided isolation fence around your residential swimming pool reduces a child's risk of drowning by 83%
- Many pools I visit have barriers around them, that's great! But it defeats the point of having a barrier around the pool if your child can easily open it.
- If your child knows how to open the gate and access the pool, consider adding a lock or alarm to the gate to prevent children from accessing the pool without your knowledge
- If your pool does not have an isolation fence around it, consider adding an alarm to your backdoor to notify you whenever the child goes into the backyard
Resources for getting an isolation fence installed around your pool in Brevard County
Baby Guard Pool Fence Melbourne
Baby Gate Pool Fence in Brevard County
Install it yourself
Amazon: Pool Fence DIY by Life Saver
Amazon: Safety Fencing Pool Fence
Have you established pool rules with your kids?
Once your kids are old enough to understand, it is important that they are aware of the pool rules. Pool rules should be presented (and practiced!) anytime we're using the pool. Pool rules can be in writing and posted on the wall somewhere near your pool. I encourage everyone play "tell me 3 pool rules" before we get in the water!
Here are a few of my pool rules that I discuss during swim lessons:
- The MOST IMPORTANT is and will always be that WE NEVER GET IN THE WATER WITHOUT AN ADULT
- Even if a child can swim, ACCIDENTS HAPPEN!
- No running, pushing, wrestling, or any other form of rough play surrounding the pool
- These activities can lead to someone falling in the pool unexpectedly. Falling in the pool unexpectedly is dangerous for a few reasons:
- Someone could hit their head and cause an injury
- Patios (especially the tile ones) can be very slippery and can cause twisted or sprained ankles
- Falling or being pushed into deep water can cause PANIC! Even a strong swimmer can find themselves struggling to swim if they are panicking!
- NO FAKE DROWNING!! This is a big one that many people forget about. Fake drowning is never cute or funny because it could put us in a position where we aren't taken seriously in the event of actually drowning! Remember: Kids see everything! Kids (or adults) fake drowning can teach young minds to laugh or joke about someone who is actually in need of assistance!
- No grabbing on to friends/siblings and pulling them underwater
- I see it all the time where siblings start playing in the water and one doesn't realize that what their doing is causing the other to struggle in the water. Always remind kids that if they're too tired to keep swimming and need to grab on to something, they need to get to the edge! Don't grab on to another child in the pool, especially one who may not be as strong of a swimmer yet!
What does drowning look like?
There is a common misconception that drowning is very loud, yelling for help, splashing arms around, etc. Unfortunately, that is not the case. According to the American Red Cross, drowning can look different and can happen quickly and silently. Some signs of drowning include:
Active drowning
The person is upright in the water but can't move forward or tread water. They might try to keep their head above water by pressing their arms down at their sides or front. They might also tilt their head back to keep their mouth out of the water, or tip forward so their face is down. They might not be able to wave or call out for help.
Passive drowning
The person is motionless and floating face down on the bottom or near the surface of the water.
Other signs
The person might have glassy, empty eyes that can't focus, or their eyes might be closed. Their hair might be over their forehead or eyes. They might be hyperventilating or gasping. They might try to swim in a direction but not make any progress.
YouTube: Drowning doesn't look like drowning
Canadian Red Cross: What does drowning look like?
American Red Cross: Drowning Prevention
What do your kids need to know if they see their friends or siblings in need of help in the water?
It's the phrase “reach or throw, don't go.” And it means that you should not attempt to enter the water to try to rescue someone who is drowning. Instead: With a reaching assist: You'll try to reach out to the person in the water with an object that the person can grab.
American Red Cross: Lesson 8 - Reach or throw, don't go
How to perform CPR
American Red Cross: Steps to performing CPR
YouTube: How to perform CPR on an infant (Under 12 months)
YouTube: How to perform CPR on a child (12 months - 12 years)
YouTube: How to perform CPR on an adult (12 years and older)