There is no greater place than the family pool. However, as water holds endless fascination for toddlers, you must take every
precaution to prevent your child from entering the pool without you. Small children lack
the cognitive ability to discern danger. It is the adults responsibility to protect
these curious and impulsive explorers from entering any body of water unsupervised.
Fortunately, many proactive strategies do exist providing multiple layers of protection to
help minimize the risk of a child "accidentally" falling into the family pool or
any body of water. Supervision, combined with barriers (including double door locks, door
alarms, pool alarms and perimeter yard fencing), pool safety fencing, gentle swimming
lessons and CPR/water safety awareness can help keep our children safe.
The following safety precautions are excerpts from the "Diaper Dolphins
Safety Circle Poster" included in Volume II of our Video series, "Diaper
SUPERVISION by adults in and out of
the house is paramount. Always know where your children are. Around water, stay close
while maintaining constant eye contact and never leave a child unattended even for a
second. Never assume someone else is watching your child. At social gatherings, designate
an adult water watcher. If your child is missing, always check the pool first. Keep toilet
lids closed and locked. Remove all buckets as babies can fall in head first. Never leave a
child unattended in the bath. Ensure that each caregiver understands the importance of all
BARRIERS leading to the pool or any body of water must
be installed AND maintained. Capabilities of toddlers change daily. Today they sit,
tomorrow they crawl. Toddlers can slip through an unlocked door in the time it takes to
answer the phone. Keep all entrances to the pool closed and locked. Install a second lock
on each door leading to the pool well out of the reach of a growing toddler's grasp.
Door and pool alarms can alert adults of unauthorized access. A see through mesh type
fence should completely surround the pool, with a minimum height of 48 inches. This pool
safety fence is especially important in separating one's home and all of it's exits from
the pool. When not in use maintain and lock the pool safety fence gate. Keep all climbable
objects away from the fence in the event they could enable a toddler to gain access over
the fence. Approved pool safety covers can add yet another layer of protection. Perimeter
yard fences should have self-closing and self-latching gates.
SWIMMING SAFETY SKILLS SWIMMING SAFETY SKILLS
vital supplement to supervision and barriers. Even during the water adjustment stage
infants/toddlers who are relaxed in the water and can hold their breath provide their
parents a few extra seconds to pick them up out of the water. This is a common scene near
pool steps or baby pools where the family is sitting and playing. As the children
progress, advanced aquatic abilities can provide a final safety net of protection if an
unsupervised water entry should occur. Such skills include jumping in, turning around and
swimming back to the side, recovering up for a breath and rolling to the back for a breath
(refer to "What Can Babies Learn" page).
INFANT CHILD CPR and first aid certification are
needed for all parents and caregivers. Prepare an emergency action plan and in the event
of an accident stay calm and react quickly and effectively. Maintain a portable phone by
the pool and post emergency numbers including 911 on all phones. Keep all toys etc. out of
the pool when not in use. Keep tricycles and wheel toys out of the pool area. It is never
too soon to teach your child pool rules. Such as never entering the water without mommy or
Remember, for the safety circle to be most effective, it must remain unbroken.
No one segment should create a false sense of security. All four pieces of the safety
circle pie must be applied. Responsible parents and caregivers will put into action all
the measures necessary to safe guard their child.
Always know where your children are. Around
water, stay close while maintaining constant eye contact and never leave a child
unattended even for a second.
Under the direction of famed swimming personality and
Olympic Swim Coach Laurie Lawrence, Queensland, Australia has instituted a "Keep Kids
Alive Program" to reduce the incidences of drowning in Eastern Australia. The program
is working. Laurie known for his down to earth folk songs has written the following verse
to remind parents and care givers of their responsibility to their children in regard to
water safety. His song is entitled "Keep Kids Alive and Do the Five."
Keep Kids Alive and Do the Five ...
Fence the pool
Shut the gate
Teach your kids to swim - its Great !
Supervise-watch your mate
Learn to resuscitate.
Mime the rhyme to survive
and Keep Kids Alive.
Pool Drain Cover
Check drain covers to ensure they are
not loose or broken. If you have doubts, call a pool
professional to inspect it.
Do not get in pools that have loose,
broken or missing drain covers.
Replace old drain covers with ones that
meet standards of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa
Safety Act, marked VGB 2008
Install an automatic pump shut-off system
Install a safety vacuum release system
source: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and The
Association of Pool and Spa Professionals
More Great Pool Safety Tips
source: American Academy of
Pediatrics; National Drowning Prevention Alliance
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copyright 1999-2013 Lifestyle Productions