Pools and Kids and Safety
Adding a pool to your property can be a wonderful experience. Instead of having to haul the kids and their gear to the community pool, you can simply walk outside and dive in any time you feel like it! However, before you take the plunge and install a pool, remember that, as a parent, it’s your job to keep your kids safe. Thus, in addition to the usual safety measures, like installing a pool fence and a pool cover, you’ll want to develop some ground rules for keeping everyone safe at the pool.
Set A Limit
When you first install a pool, know that your kids are going to want to invite over everyone they know. They’ll want to show off to their friends and have some fun. However, it’s up to you to set a limit on how many kids can safely use the pool at a time. This will vary based on factors like swimming ability, the age of the children, and more. However, it’s a good idea to set a “kids per adult” ratio. For example, having one adult present for every three children is a common one.
Laying some ground rules like these will ensure everyone knows what’s expected of them and should go a long way in keeping kids and their visitors safe.
Never Leave Children Unattended
Every parent knows to never leave a child unattended in the water. However, parents often break this rule just for a minute. They’ll pop inside to get a glass of water, take a phone call, or grab something from the fridge. Unfortunately, though, it only takes a minute for disaster to strike. No matter the age of your children, the strength of their swimming, or anything in between, make yourself a “zero tolerance” policy for leaving kids unattended. Even if that means having a baby-sitter on-hand, asking the neighbors to be in charge of kid-duty for a few minutes, or forcing the kids out of the pool while you go inside, it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Pool safety may not be the most “fun” thing to think about. However, it’s definitely necessary for parents who want to ensure their pool is a source of joy, and not of sorrow.