Summer is in full swing, and that means fun times at the swimming pool. Amidst all the cannonballs and Marco Polo, however, it’s important to educate your kids on how to stay safe this summer, in and out of the pool. There are few activities that get kids more revved up than a perfect pool day, but nothing will ruin your summertime fun more than a trip to the emergency room because of horseplay or lack of sufficient caution and respect for safety.
Importance of Swimming Pool Safety for Kids
Water is dangerous, especially in large quantities, and if improper precautions are taken, then tragedy can strike. According to one source, roughly 4,500 people drowned each year from 2020 to 2022. Young children are obviously among those at the highest risk of drowning, as it only takes an inch or two of water for a baby or toddler to drown in. Never leave a small child unattended in a pool or bathtub, even in a small plastic or inflatable kiddy pool. The risks with these sorts of small pools can actually be greater, as they can give parents a false sense of security, due to the small amount of water involved. Do not make that mistake, and keep your eyes on your kids when they’re around any amount of water.
In addition to the risks of drowning, pools can carry other dangers. Running on wet cement can be a recipe for head injuries or broken bones, and improperly treated pool water can get people sick, especially if there are lots of small children using the pool without swim diapers. Sanitation is important, and the more people are using the pool, the harder you have to work to keep that water safe and sanitary.
How to Prepare a Swimming Pool for Kids
When you are building a pool, or just prepping it for a new summer of fun, take the time needed to check (and double-check) all of the safety features and any water features or apparatuses, like handrails, diving boards, buoys, life vests, inflatable floating wings for kids, the lifeguard seat, benches and deck chairs, and so on. Look for any cracked or chipped cements on the edges or bottom of the pool, as those sharp edges can cut little feet. Make sure that the fencing around your pool is in good order, and that there is a padlock to keep unsupervised neighborhood kids out when no one should be swimming. If you do night swims, make sure that you have adequate lightning for the whole pool area, and be especially vigilant when swimming at night.
Check Pool Chemistry and PH Levels
Disinfectants are what keep your pool from being an ugly bowl of sludgy soup, instead keeping it as a sparkling place of fun. Don’t skimp on the chlorine, bromine, or whatever else you are using to keep your water clean. Don’t overdo it either, as no one wants burning eyes from an over chlorinated pool. Talk to a local pool expert to get the best advice on balancing and maintaining ideal chemical levels.
Use Water Filtration Systems
Along with those disinfectants, a good pool pump and filter is the single most important investment you can make for your pool. Standing water grows tepic and gross, and chlorine alone isn’t enough to keep the water fresh and enjoyable. Disinfectants like chlorine kill microbial lifeforms, but your water needs movement and filtration too, in order to remove sediment, dirt, sweat, and all the other undesirable things that get into water. The initial costs of a good pool filter system can be a bit high, but you can find affordable replacement pool and spa filter cartridges on All Filters to minimize the repeat costs of keeping your pool beautiful.
Install Child Safety Gates and Fences
In many cities and municipalities, it is legally mandatory to have fencing installed around a pool, and different locations have different specific requirements, so check with your city government before you start drawing up your blueprints. Not only is it a good safety measure, but it can also protect you from legal liability and a potential lawsuit if someone wanders into your pool area and gets hurt or drowns. If an injury occurs in St. Louis, Missouri and is linked to preventable hazards such as broken fencing, poor lighting, or persistently slippery surfaces, it may involve an injury on someone else’s property situation where property conditions and maintenance practices are reviewed to understand how the incident happened.
Use Anti-slip Mats Around the Pool Area
Kids love to run, and when there are can-openers and front-flips to be done into an inviting pool, it can be tough to get them to keep it slow. This is where heavy-duty rubber anti-slip mats come in. They’re not a huge investment, price-wise, but they could save you a lot of money in hospital bills, as well as a lot of stress and heartache. Cover that concrete with something a little more forgiving–you’ll thank yourself later.
Install a Pool Cover When Not in Use
This may seem like a no-brainer, but a surprising number of people fail to do this. A pool cover is a clear sign to all involved that the pool is closed for business, and it helps to keep leaves, dust, and other detritus out of the water. All of these costs can add up, of course, but a pool cover is important enough that you don’t want to try and pinch pennies here.
Pool Safety Rules for Kids
At the beginning of the summer, sit down with your kids and write out a list of pool safety rules. Have them try and think of some themselves, and then write them down to be posted in a publicly visible spot. When children see the sense and logic behind rules–especially when they get to help set the rules themselves–they are far more likely to follow them. Kids are smart, and if you give them a chance to reach a reasoned conclusion, they will agree with you on the importance of rules like: 1) no running, 2) no dangerous horseplay in the water, 3) no diving in shallow areas, 4) no pushing, shoving, or pushing people under the water, and 5) think twice before doing something you think may be risky. Kids want to take responsibility, but they resent being given rules without understanding their purpose. Encourage them to think these things through, and you will find much more compliant little swimmers.
Educate Your Kids about Water Safety
At the end of the day, water is our friend–it nourishes us and keeps us alive, delights us in the form of rain and snow, and makes for one of the funnest summertime pastimes imaginable. With proper caution, education, and a healthy respect for H2O, everyone can make the most of this and every summer. Open and honest communication is the key, so talk to your kids about it, not just once, but as many times as it takes to sink in.
The Bottom Line
With the proper external safety features, a good filtration system, regular and vigilant maintenance, an eye to the proper chemical balance in your water, and a set of clearly defined, and adhered–to rules around the pool, you and your family should be set for plenty of summer fun. Just put safety first, and the rest will follow wonderfully. Want to keep your decking maintained for long-term use? Learn about cleaning composite decking to keep your outdoor space looking and performing at its best.
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