Have a Safe Swim
by Angela Scott

Just as the mercury rises due to the weather’s sizzling temperatures so does the nationwide number of childhood drowning in home pools. Every pool owner should set guidelines. Here’s a checklist created by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission:

Rules for Pools
• Instruct babysitters about potential pool hazards to young children. Inform caregivers about the use of protective devices, such as door alarms and latches. Emphasize the need for constant supervision.

• Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. During social gatherings at or near a pool, appoint a “designated watcher” to protect young children from pool accidents. Adults may take turns being the “watcher. “ When adults become preoccupied, children are at risk.

• If a child is missing, check the pool first. Seconds count in preventing death or disability. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom and surface, as well as the pool area.

• Do not allow a young child in the pool without an adult.

• Do not consider young children to be drown proof because they have had swimming lessons. Children must be watched closely while swimming.

• Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

• Learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). Babysitters and other caretakers, such as grandparents and older siblings, should also know CPR.

• Keep rescue equipment by the pool. Be sure a telephone is poolside with emergency numbers posted nearby.

• Remove toys from in and around the pool when not in use. Toys can attract young children to the pool.

• Never prop open the gate used as a pool barrier.


Reprinted with permission from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission pamphlet, How to Plan for the Unexpected. For detailed barrier recommendations, write CPSC, Pool Barriers, Office of Information & Public Affairs, Washington, DC 20207. Call the CPSC’s toll-free hotline at 1-800-638-2772 or visit www.cpsc.gov.


Additional Resources:
American Academy of Pediatrics – www.aap.org/family/tipppool.htm – Provides a pool safety sheet that describes ways parents can protect their children from drowning.

American Red Cross Water Safety Tips – www.redcross.org – Offers several tips for families to stay safe and healthy when engaging in activities in and around the water.

KidsHealth: Staying Safe While in the Water – www.kidshealth – Online resource features articles for parents, teenagers and children that highlight statistics about water-related injuries and what to do in an emergency.

National SAFE KIDS Campaign – www.safekids.org – Nonprofit organization dedicated to the prevention of unintentional childhood injury provides information about residential swimming pool laws, water safety checklists and Water Watcher tags.

National Water Safety Congress – www.watersafetycongress.org – Nonprofit organization promotes recreational water safety education and enforcement laws to reduce fatalities, injuries and property damage.



Angela D. Scott lives in the Los Angeles area and is the Special Sections Editor, L.A. Parent. This professional writer is a single mother of two daughters, Shani and Samara.



June 23, 2004