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Child DrowningChild Drowning
Tips for preventing child drowning and keeping kids safe around swimming pools
(from the American Academy of Pediatrics)
  • Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
  • You must put up a fence to separate your house from the pool. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high surrounding your entire pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that are self-closing and self-latching, with latches higher than your childrens' reach.
  • A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) adds to the protection of your children but should not be used in place of the fence between your house and the pool. ACCORDING TO THE United StatesConsumer Product Safety Commission THERE IS NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF THAT POOL COVERS PREVENT CHILDREN FROM DROWNING .
  • Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.
  • Do not let your child use air-filled "swimming aids" as they are not a substitute for approved life vests and may be dangerous.
  • Anyone watching young children around a pool should learn CPR and be able to rescue a child, if needed. Stay within an arm's length of your child.
  • All toys should be removed from the pool after use. Toys, in the pool, are a temptation to children. After the children are done swimming, lock the pool gate so they can't get back in to the pool area.
Remember, teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT MEAN your child is safe in water.
Child drowning does happen and not only to just "other people".

You must use common sense and safety pool fencing to protect your children.

With kids in the home and a swimming pool in the backyard, supervision is the No. 1 way to keep your children safe from injury or drowning. But supervision, by itself, is not nearly enough to ensure pool safety.

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, of all the child drowning and swimming pool accidents involving small children, 77% of the victims had been seen by a parent/guardian within the past five minutes. Almost 80% of swimming pool accidents occurred when both parents were at home and watching the child!

Experts at the National Spa & Pool Institute, the Consumer Product Safety Commission and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that pool safety barriers are always necessary.  The fence should be a minimum of 4 feet high with a self-closing, self-latching pool gate. All Guardian pool safety fence systems meet these standards.

Pool safety checklist

 

Here is a guide for parents of children under 5.  Common sense is the key to preventing child drowning and all of these pool safety recommendations.

Doors leading to the pool should be kept locked and alarmed if possible.
Install a safety barrier around the entire pool, so that the only reason to go through that barrier is to use the pool. This is a must-do for families with small children. If this isn't possible, make sure your safety barrier prevents access from ALL doors, gates and windows leading into the pool area.
You must assume that a child will try to beat your pool safety system. If you don't think this is true, YOU ARE WRONG!
The reasons for this are very simple to understand:
1. A child does not know right from wrong.
2. All children are attracted to the water/pool.
3. A child does not know or understand fear.
4. You can't trust a child's judgement.
 If a child can't be found, immediately check the pool first. Time is critical!
When having a party, designate a child watcher for pool safety. Adults become preoccupied when socializing and often assume someone else is watching the kids.
Child drowning can happen to anyone!
Never consider youngsters "water safe" because they've had swimming lessons. There are no water-safe children.
No one should ever swim alone. Teach your children to use the buddy system. Since children learn by example, parents should follow these pool safety tips too.
Learn CPR. Anyone responsible for children, such as babysitters, should know CPR. Because of the time it takes for paramedics to arrive, your CPR skills can make a difference in someone's life.
Radios, CD players and ALL other electrical equipment should be kept away from the pool area.
Never leave toys near the pool. The lure of toys near the pool is much too inviting for children.
Always keep a phone and rescue equipment handy in the swimming pool area.
No drugs or alcohol when you plan to use the pool.
Never dive into the shallow end.
Stay out of the pool during thunder and lightning storms.

Please supervise your children at all times -- and install a Guardian removable safety fence around your pool to prevent child drowning.

This guide courtesy of Guardian Pool Fence Systems Inc.
Please feel free to distribute this to your friends and neighbors!

Read more about child drowning prevention

Safety commission tips
CDC: child drowning and water injury facts
Safe Kids pool safety tips to prevent child drowning

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