It is hard to beat the fun of a pool in the summertime. Just the thought of jumping into the cool, clean water can help you get through a hot day. To keep the experience fun, here are 10 tips to keep kids safe around pools.

Use Barriers

Comply with your town’s requirements for fencing your pool. If you live in an area that does not regulate fencing around home pools, you should enclose your pool on all four sides with a fence that is at least four feet high. You should include a gate that closes and latches itself so it cannot remain open.

Limit Access

If you will not be using your pool for a long period of time, such as in the off-season, place a safety cover on your pool. Remove any ladders or steps, too.

Use Warning Devices

There are alarms you can use to notify you if anyone goes into the pool. Warning devices can be lifesavers if you have young children or people in your household with cognitive or memory issues. A pool alarm can also help prevent a tragedy—and your potential liability—if someone trespasses into your pool without your knowledge or permission.

Always Supervise

Never allow anyone—adult or child—to swim alone. You should always designate an adult to watch over the people in the pool if any of them are children, even if they know how to swim. An adult must stay within arm’s reach of every young child in the pool. If multiple adults are present, switch off in intervals of 10 or 15 minutes.

Establish Non-Negotiable Rules

Every pool needs safety rules, such as:

  • No running around the pool;
  • Stay off of the drains and suctions;
  • No diving;
  • No jumping off of a roof or out of a tree into the pool;and
  • Anything else that applies to your situation.

Do not let any swimmers ignore these rules.

Schedule Swimming Lessons

If you own a home pool, everyone in your household should know how to swim. Age-appropriate swimming lessons are available all over Florida. These lessons could prevent drowning, which is the second most common cause of accidental death in young children. A person can drown in less than two minutes, and in very little water.

Learn First Aid and CPR

Just as everyone in a household with a pool should know how to swim, they should also be able to respond correctly to a pool emergency. Check for courses in CPR and first aid in your community through the Red Cross, YMCA, and other organizations.

Purchase Safety Equipment

Go overboard on safety equipment so you can respond to any pool-related emergency. Insist that non-swimmers wear Coast Guard-approved life vests. Keep life preservers with ropes attached and handy. Do not expect water wings or pool toys to be able to save anyone’s life.

Keep the Pool Clean

Keep the pool clean at all times to prevent illnesses that can come from bacteria, viruses, and other water contaminants. If you do not use a pool service, follow a consistent and frequent schedule of testing the chemicals and cleaning the filters and equipment.

Educate Yourself

Together with the Red Cross, the National Swimming Pool Foundation offers a two-hour online safety course for a nominal fee. You will learn strategies to make your home pool a safer environment. The program also teaches basic pool maintenance to help you keep your pool clean.

Get Help If Your Child Suffered Injuries in a Pool Accident.

At the Montero Law Center, we want you and your family to have a safe summer of fun at the pool. Sometimes accidents happen even if you take the safety precautions. If you or your child suffered an injury in someone else’s pool, you could qualify for damages. Call us at 954-767-6500 for a free case consultation.