One of the biggest problems of social distancing is keeping kids entertained. Babies can be easily entertained, and teens can occupy their own time easily enough. However, parents of many kids in between these ages are running into trouble. So, how do you keep bored, energetic youngsters out of harm’s way? Today, let’s talk about keeping kids safe around the pool.
Keeping Kids Safe Around the Pool During Self-Isolation
From the outside, it may seem easy to entertain kids. But when you’re facing 24-hour-a-day lockdown away from familiar activities and friends, this can become quite tricky. No matter what, kids are curious. When they step away from the games and television, their imaginations can run wild. Unfortunately, this can often lead them to the backyard pool area. As our readers already likely know, this is a major drowning hazard. Keeping kids safe around the pool requires active supervision and a host of other safety methods.
Active Supervision
First and foremost, keeping kids safe around the pool requires a responsible adult to accompany them. This person should practice active supervision. This is a larger issue that you can learn about in our dedicated
active supervision blog post, but here it is in a nutshell:
Active supervision requires a responsible adult who is dedicated to watching children without distraction. That means no zoning out with books, a phone or conversations. This is the most important lesson in keeping kids safe around the pool. Watching the kids should be the supervisor’s top priority. After all,
unintentional drowning is a leading cause of death for children. By remaining vigilant and staying within arms reach, an active supervisor can significantly eliminate much of the child’s risk. Keeping kids safe around the pool requires attention and disciple.
Be Careful with Toys
When it comes to pool toys and swimmies, parents should be careful. Pool noodles, swimmies and water wings are not flotation devices. Instead, you should always use a
United States Coast Guard approved life jacket. This will offer maximum protection for your little ones. Once you are done with the toys, put them away so that kids aren’t tempted to go in after them.
Necessary Defense: Alarms and a Pool Fence
During this crisis, many parents are losing track of their little ones. The simple fact is this: parents are working from home
and educating their children. This can lead to gaps in a parent’s awareness. When no one is paying attention, kids just love to sneak off and explore. In most circumstances, this is fine. A bit of creative mischief is a great way to blow off some steam. That said, the water can be a dangerous hazard. Many children have been found floating dead in the pool after just a few short minutes of disappearing from sight. Believe it or not,
86% of drowned children are discovered fully clothed. That’s a horrifying idea, but it is also something that all parents need to understand. A momentary loss of attention can bring fatal results. For this, we recommend using alarms on your doors and windows. Additionally, consider adding a submersion alarm to your pool. These devices sound an alert once your little one dips under the water.
Finally, we recommend installing a pool fence. A properly installed mesh pool fence is a powerful barrier that can protect your kids. It should be strong enough to withstand a child’s attempts to push it over, and tall enough to stop your pride-and-joy from climbing over it.
When combined, these measures offer layers of protection for your water area. They are crucial steps when it comes to keeping kids safe around the pool. If you have further questions, be sure to reach out on our
Facebook or
twitter accounts!
