Poolside activities are among the most fun things for your child. But, at the same time, they are very dangerous because these include a lot of jumping and pushing. Just a small slip and your kid may end up will stitches on his head. It makes matters worse knowing that most kids will continue jumping off the pool ledge till they reach their 20s.
You probably cannot do anything about child mentality; they will always be lured by things that are potentially dangerous. But, if you have pool in your backyard, you can definitely make it a much safer environment for your kid.
- Fencing it off
Families who have a pool should always get a fence. Most people use a fence to fend against stray animals and they generally place it around wider perimeter. However, if you have a small child, you have to be much more restrictive. You need to put up a fence that will be surrounding the pool.
During the summer, children have much more freedom. Sooner than later, you will sit on your porch. No matter how hard you try, your 2, 3 year old child will start running around. This is where accidents happen. If there is no fence around the pool, they may stray and fall into it. Same story goes during the winter. At that time, you should also add a cover.
- Electricity is a great hazard
You wouldn’t believe how many accidents occur due to bad wiring or grounding. Here, the main culprit is the pump. As something that is in close proximity of water and has indirect contact with it, you need to make sure that all the wires are well isolated. Just one drop of water can lead to a disaster.
As additional layer of protection, you should get a reliable pump which you can purchase here. However, bad electric work is not the only issue here. Your child may also get a hold of an electric device and toss it into the water. Best way to prevent this is to remove all the devices from the poolside. Certainly, child can always bring a device from home to the poolside. But with this small precautionary measure, you are at least reducing the risk.
- Slippery and overcrowded deck
Your child will likely fall more than once while running around the poolside. Slippery deck represents an enormous danger but it is something we cannot do anything about. But, what if your deck becomes more slippery than normal? This is a good indication that algae are starting to form around your pool. Naturally, this is due to lack of pool maintenance.
If you wish to make your poolside safe again, make sure to clean it each and every week. On top of that, toys lying around the pool are another thing to be considered. Some of them can be really small (such as marbles, Lego cubes, etc.) and they will definitely increase risk of slipping and falling. Like devices, toys have no place on the deck. Of course, every child will want to have a ball when swimming in the pool. But, make sure no to give him one until he is old enough to play safely.
These are the main tips when it comes to pool safety. Always remember – safety begins with pool construction. There are numerous things which can go wrong and you, as a parent, need to make sure that everything is completely safe for your child. You have to introduce your child to the pool slowly, giving him more liberty as it grows older.
About the Author: Nick Stoyanov is a copywriter and content strategist at ForPumps.com.au – Australia’s largest online pump store. 4 Pumps is an Australian company that focuses on the national distribution of its comprehensive range of quality pumping products.
