Pool Safety Tips

Many children and adults enjoy spending time by the pool. Many enjoy laying in the sun and tanning, while others prefer to splash around in the pool. They love to swim, jump off the diving board, and spend time playing games.

As fun as they are, there are many dangers when it comes to pools. Though you may think about people drowning, the truth is that many people hurt themselves in other ways, such as falling around the pool.

Even if there is a lifeguard where you go swimming, you still need to make sure that you and your family are safe. Here are some tips to help.

If you own a pool, you have to have a fence around it. Most states require a fence around all pools, in order to keep children from wondering and falling into pools. It is even better if you have a self-closing, self-latching gate to keep even the most curious children away from pools.

Always walk by the pool. Most slip-and-fall accidents happen around the pool. Children may be running around the pool and slip and fall into the water. It is important that they know that they should always walk around the pool. If they can't follow this rule, they shouldn't be allowed anywhere near one!

Make sure that your children know that they can't be by the pool unless you or a grownup that you trust are with them. Your children need to stay away from any body of water unless they are supervised. Even good swimmers and teenagers could have an accident by the pool! 

This also means that you need to keep an eye on your children when they are by the pool. Though you may want to sit by the pool and relax, you need to make sure that you keep an eye on your children. Even a minute or two could have some serious consequences.

A lifeguard is not enough. Even if there is a lifeguard, you still need to watch your children. The lifeguard has multiple people to watch all over the pool. He or she may miss something, so you need to watch your children closely.

Make sure that you and your children know how to swim. You should not spend time by a pool if you don't know how to swim properly. You are just asking for trouble. There are plenty of classes to help you get comfortable in the water and learn how to swim. 

Not only will you learn how to swim, these classes also teach you how to handle yourself around a pool so that you are less likely to be in an accident. 

Be careful when diving. Above-ground pools are too shallow for any type of diving. The only time that you should consider diving is off of a diving board in a pool that is in-ground. Otherwise, you may hit your head on the side of the pool or even the bottom!

Don't be afraid to use an appropriate personal flotation device (PFD). Noodles and inner tubes are good, but they aren't designed to keep your children safe. Instead, your younger swimmers need to wear personal flotation devices to keep their heads above the water. 

Learn CPR. This is a skill that could save someone's life, so it is a good thing to learn. Don't know where to start? Many hospitals and community centers offer CPR classes. You can also contact the American Red Cross. 

It is important to keep up with your training. Regular training will make sure that you learn any new skills, as well as keep it current in your mind. If you took a class five years ago, you might not remember how to do CPR when faced with an emergency. 

Keep a phone handy, in case of an emergency. If something happens, you need to have your phone ready to make the call. If you don't have your cell phone, you should ask around to find out where the closest phone is. Hotels and other pools may have a phone close by, just in case. 

Avoid drugs and alcohol around pools. Though many people love to relax around the pool with a drink in their hand, it can be disastrous. You don't want to get too drunk and fall into the pool. If your reaction time is delayed, which is common with drugs and alcohol, you may not be able to get yourself out of the pool.

If you own a pool, you need to make sure that it is fenced in. Then, nobody can go near it, unless you or an adult that you trust lets them in! If you are watching the children, your eyes need to be on them. Even a minute can be disastrous. You should also remember that it isn't enough to have a lifeguard. He or she has to watch an entire pool of people, so, to be on the safe side, you need to watch your children as closely as possible.

You should also make sure that everyone knows how to swim before you let them in your pool. If they don't, recommend classes so that they can learn, as well as tips to stay safe near the water. Personal flotation devices should be used for all children who need them.

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Previously published on Medium and/or Newsbreak.