When it comes to the pool, safety should be top priority. After all, the safety of your guests is ultimately the responsibility of the pool owner. To this end, it’s important to establish some clear pool safety rules.
Create Pool Safety Rules
Before anyone even thinks about hopping into the pool, it’s crucial to lay down the law. This means establishing some clear pool safety rules. Beyond that, it’s important that everyone who will be near the water understands these rules.
These guidelines will depend on your own unique situation. Every home, like every family, is different. One family’s needs may be different from another’s.
Of course, there are some basic pool safety rules that are invaluable for all situations. For example:
- No running around the pool area.
- Always swim with a buddy.
- No diving.
- Roughhousing is not allowed.
- Don’t enter the pool without an adult present.
These are simple ground rules, but they can make a world of difference when it comes to overall safety. After all, research shows that the majority of at-home pool drownings or near-drownings occurred
while the parents were in or around the house. In many of these instances, the parents or guardians may have even been in the pool area with their child. However, drowning can be both quick and silent. A single mistake can quickly become fatal. For this reason, it is crucial that absolutely everyone knows the rules.
Go Over the Rules Using Clear Communication
Even more important than making the rules is putting them into action. To do this, have a frank and serious conversation with your family and friends before even setting foot outside. This includes both children and adults. It may seem a bit nit-picky, but it’s for the safety and fun of your guests. Setting the ground rules can make or break a day spent poolside.
This is the time for parents to explain to their children the potential consequences of ignoring the pool safety rules. The goal isn’t to scare the kids, but to make them aware of how essential the rules are. After all, everyone just wants them to stay safe and happy.
To help codify these rules, consider posting them near the pool. That’s right, put up a sign, just like you’d see at a public
community pool. This idea can be just as effective at home. In this instance, you can even have your kids help to paint and make the sign. Making them an active part of the rule-making can help them to internalize the rules.
Keep Your Cool
Now that you’ve made the rules, it is time to enforce them. First, don’t expect your rules to work one hundred percent of the time. People break and bend rules. This should be expected and prepared for.
Above all, you’re trying to host a happy, fun and safe day. To this end, it is important that you don’t lose your cool. Be prepared for some misbehaving, and get ready to remind rule violators firmly that continued rule breaking will mean that they’ll need to leave the water. Then, be prepared to enforce this threat. Be sure your fellow adults are agreed on this policy before heading out to the water. It’s nice to have some backup when you’re laying down the law.
Safety Starts with Layers of Protection
Finally, rules are great, but don’t simply hope for the best. Instead, having multiple layers of protection can really help to keep your swimmers safe. These include a wide range of pool safety options, including a pool fence, a self-closing gate, pool alarms and active supervision. To learn more, be sure to read our
dedicated article on this topic.
