Home swimming pools represent fun and wholesome experiences for everyone in the family. Most of the time, it is what people experience when they go for a dip. However, the sad truth is, accidents and unwanted deaths are still happening all over the country. Most of the victims are children under the age of 15. In fact, in the summer of 2018, 148 children died in swimming pools in American homes, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
How can homeowners help bring down this number to zero? If you own or are planning to install a swimming pool in your home, here are a few pointers to boost safety, especially for children.
Fences and Covers
Chances are, you live in an area where regulations require you to put up fences or walls around the pool area to lessen the likelihood of accidents. You may be liable even if an uninvited guest drowns in the pool. All the more reason to make sure those fences hold. Some areas also detail the minimum requirements.
That is also applicable for covers and nets. They should be strong and secured enough to hold a person’s weight.
Additional features like automatic lights and alarms are also good ideas for safety. Coincidentally, these features raise your overall home security against intrusions.
Pool Design
If you’re having a pool made (or remade), you may add some features that boost safety. Ladders and steps can help by gradually introducing the depth of the pool and by offering a way out for those who might be struggling.
Some swimming pools also have an inclined design making one side deeper than the other. This feature also works similarly to the steps but with a smoother transition.
The area around the pool is as important as the pool itself. The perimeter should have proper pool deck coating that prevents slips. It should also withstand water immersion, chlorides, and even constant sunlight. It can also help if the perimeter has a different color and texture from the rest of the area to solidify the distinction.
Essential SkillsÂ
There are two essential skills that everyone in the family needs to have if you’re planning to get a pool. The first one, of course, is knowing how to swim. Parents and guardians must know how to swim so that they can rush in whenever they need to and teach children how to swim. However, even if the child knows how to swim, adult supervision should never be neglected.
The second skill is CPR or cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Every adult and older child should learn this important, life-saving skill. Sometimes, no matter what people do, accidents can happen. If they do, performing CPR can be the difference between life and death. It has to be done the right way, or else you’ll risk doing more damage to the person you’re trying to save.
Learn some essential facts about CPR from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Attitude
More than teaching kids how to swim, it is vital to help them understand why it’s dangerous to be on their own. Express your concern in a direct but understanding manner. Understanding rules is the best way for your children to follow them, even when you’re not looking.
