According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more children aged 1-4 years die from drowning than from any other cause except congenital disabilities. Every year in the United States, there are an estimated 3,960 (11 per day) fatal intentional drownings and 8,080 (22 per day) nonfatal drownings. Many of these children drown during non-swim times, when they weren't expected to be in the water, including as the swimming activity was coming to an end, and everyone was thought to be out of the water. Children were often out of sight for less than 5 minutes and in the care of one or both parents at the time.
Proper supervision can prevent harm to your children while still allowing them to enjoy the pool. Children love to wander and explore, and your pool is a location for their adventures. When you are not able to keep an eye on children, you need to have precautions in place to avoid any potential danger. Below a list of safety tips that can help decrease the chances of disasters occurring.
Keep young children and weak swimmers within arm's reach of an adult. Ensure that even more experienced swimmers are accompanied by a partner at all times. Keep your phone close by at all times in case you need to call for help. If a child is missing, check the pool first. Don't rely on the use of water wings, swim wings, inflatable toys, or other items designed for water recreation to replace adult supervision.
If several adults are present, designate one to be responsible for supervising children in or near the water for a specified period. After that time is up, select another adult to be the water watcher. Watching children should be their only task, and they should stay within arm's reach of young children or weak swimmers.
Contrary to popular belief, drowning is often silent and can occur in less than five minutes. This means you need to give your child your undivided attention, so put away your phone, books, and magazines. This remains important even if you believe your child is a strong swimmer.
Every child is different, and you know your child best, so enroll them in swim lessons when they're ready. Take into consideration their age, development, and the frequency with which they're around water. There are many free or reduced-cost options available through your local YMCA, USA Swimming chapter, or Parks and Recreation Department.
Make sure that your child knows how to:
A Pool Fence should surround all sides of your pool, and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates. Ensure that there's no way for your child to climb over the fence, and teach them not to attempt it. A four-sided fence that separates the pool area from the house and yard reduces a child's risk of drowning.
Several states have legislation that requires a fence to be installed around pools. Check your local legislation to determine if a fence is required, including the minimum height requirements.
For above ground pols, secure, lock, or remove steps, ladders, and any other items that can be used for access (such as outdoor furniture and toys) whenever an adult is not actively supervising the pool.
A Pool Alarm is also recommended. These will alert you if there's unauthorized access to your pool by a child or a pet.
Teach your child not to swim or stand near pool drains or suction outlets. Consider replacing old, non-Virginia Graeme Baker Act-compliant drains with newer, compliant ones. This is especially important in spas and shallow pools. Never enter a pool that has a loose, broken, or missing drain cover. When using a spa, be sure to locate the emergency vacuum shutoff before getting in the water.
It's essential to know how to respond in an emergency without also putting yourself at the risk of drowning. Often, bystanders are the first to aid a drowning victim, so learning these skills may help you save a life. CPR classes are available through many hospitals, community centers, or by contacting the American Red Cross.
Falling into cold water can cause cold shock, making swimming difficult even for the strongest swimmers. Remember to dress according to the water temperature, not the air temperature.
The most important safety tips include constant adult supervision, installing a pool fence with a self-latching gate, using a pool alarm, teaching children how to swim, and enforcing strict pool rules such as no running or diving. Always keep rescue equipment and a phone nearby in case of emergencies. These simple steps alone can help reduce the risk of accidents drastically.
Experts recommend that no child under the age of 14 should swim unsupervised, no matter their perceived swimming ability. Even experienced swimmers can get into trouble dur to fatigue, cramps, or sudden slips. For toddlers, ensure you maintian "touch supervision", where an adult is always within arm's reach.
Yes, pool alarms can be an effective layer of protection - they alert you immediately if a child enters the pool area or falls into the water. While they should never replace adult supervision, alarms can provide cirital seconds to respond and prevent drowning.
The safest pool fence for children is one that is at least four feet high, has faps no wider than 4 inches, and includes a self-closing, self-latching gate that opens outwards. Always ensure that the fence meets local pool fence codes.
For young children learning to swim, a pool depth of 3 to 4 feet is generally considered the safest. Shallow water allows kids to touch the bottom easily, which builds confidence and safety. For toddlers or non-swimmers, use a kiddie pool or shallow area where they can stanfd with their head entirely above water.