It's every parent's worst nightmare, you look away for one second and turn around to find your child in peril. In order to keep your children safe in and near water it's critical that you actively supervise them and never ever leave them alone for any moment. Let's take a look at these safety guidelines to follow in order to keep your babies safe and happy.
When your children are in and around water, stay at a distance where you can see, hear or reach to them quickly. Avoid preparing a meal, talking on the phone or reading a book during these times.
When installing fencing around pools or spas, ensure that they are at least 5-6 feet high and include self-latching and self-closing gates. In addition to fencing, use pool safety devices such as pool alarms, door locks and a pool cover on your home pool or spa.
Never keep the gate of the pool barrier open. Remove all the pool toys in water as they can entice children to retrieve them and fall in when they aren't actively swimming or playing in the water.
Always keep emergency rescue equipment such as life preserver with rope with a reaching shepherd crook or pole and a phone near the pool area.
Pool drains are often a cause for drowning accidents. Instruct your child not to go close to pool drain. Additionally, since hair can get entrapped by the strong suction, ensure your child's hair is tied up neatly when in the water.
Installing numerous drains in pools, whirlpools, spas and hot tubs will help reduce the suction in any one drain, minimizing the risk of death or injury.
Check you drain cover regularly to ensure that they are secure and do not have cracks. Opt for dome shaped covers instead of flat drain covers.
Empty water from wading pools, buckets or containers immediately after use.
Install an approved safety vacuum release system (SVRS). Setting up this tool can help you to quickly turn off the pump and stop the suction if anything gets blocked or trapped in the drain.
Start swimming lessons for children after four years of age. Find a certified swimming instructor and opt for classes that teach children emergency water survival techniques.
Wearing a life-jacket or other safety devices do not necessarily guarantee the safety of children in water. Always wear a US coast guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) when you and your children are close to open water bodies, on boats or when participating in water sports. However, ensure that the PFD fits your child snugly and does not allow the chin and ears of the child to slip through the opening.
Air filled swimming aid such as inner tubes or water wings are not completely safe and cannot be substituted for PFD's.
Do not allow children to operate a personal watercraft if they are below 16 years of age.
Never allow children to dive in a lake, river, and ocean or water less than nine feet deep.
Always keep the lids of toilets down and ensure that you use childproofing devices for the utility room and bathroom doors when not in use.
