Last Updated on January 23, 2023
Hanging out at the pool with your kids can be one of life’s greatest pleasures. From spending your days in the sun and cooling off with a refreshing dip in the pool, there’s no denying that swimming pools offer unparalleled experiences that everyone can enjoy.
Owning a pool, however, comes with huge responsibility, and rightly so since you need to ensure the safety and security of everyone who goes in it, especially when there are kids involved. Accidents and injuries can happen in the blink of an eye.
Thankfully, there are precautions that you can take to protect your kids from the pool. Below are some swimming pool dangers to watch out for and some ways you can prevent these from even happening in the first place.
The Dangers of Swimming Pools
Drowning is considered one of the leading causes of death, with children being one of the groups that are highest at risk for this, even accounting for 7% of all related deaths in the world. As a matter of fact, 30% of drowning-related deaths in children occur not only in children ages 1 to 4, but also in kids aged 5 to 14, most of which happen in swimming pools.
Not all swimming pool-related injuries can stem from drowning. There are also a variety of dangers that can befall your kids, which may cause fatal or non-fatal injuries, such as slipping and falling, electrical wiring, improper drain and pool covers, and many others. Get to know some of these dangers.
Drowning
Drowning isn’t normally just what you expect it to look like. Movies make it seem like it’s all about flailing arms, but drowning can appear quick and quiet as well. There may even be little to no movement, which is why it’s imperative that you know how to spot signs of drowning.
Kids can drown even in the shallowest of waters, especially when they aren’t trained to swim or don’t know how to swim. Drowning could be exacerbated without the presence of an adult or a lifeguard or even pool fences.
Slipping and Falling
Your pool can easily become wet and this can be another hazard for your kids, making them prone to slipping and falling, more so when they aren’t mindful of what they’re walking or running on. These can also become more dangerous over time as they age and become exposed to various elements.
Diving Board Injuries
One of the most dangerous aspects when it comes to your swimming pool is the diving board. There are a number of things that make the diving board hazardous, especially when the rules surrounding this aren’t observed. Improper use of diving boards can result to head and spine injuries, to name a few.
Pool Cover and Pool Drain Accidents
Pool suctions and drains can be quite powerful. When left uncovered, these can result in not only hair entanglement, but can also entrap your kids. There are some incidents that have led not only to children’s arms, legs, and even fingers from being lodged in suction openings, but even disembowelment from sitting on uncovered drains and suctions.
Similarly, with pools not being used all year round, many owners fail to put up pool covers and fences, making children susceptible to falling and drowning. At times, there are pool covers that aren’t enough to deter or support the weight of a child, leading them to fall into the pool.
Learning How to Keep Your Kids Safe at the Pool
Keeping your kids safe at the pool is a huge responsibility. With numerous dangers that can befall them, taking an active hand in protecting them in and around the water can help save their life and even make swimming enjoyable for everyone involved.
Put Pool Fences, Alarms, and Covers in Your Pool
One of the most important aspects you should consider as a pool owner and a parent is using protective fences and covers for your swimming pool. This means that your pool should have a pool fence that deters children from going into your pool, especially when they are unsupervised.
Mesh pool fencing is one of the best types of pool fences out there. Compared to other traditional fences, these pool fences have fine mesh netting that children cannot climb onto. At the same time, this netting material gives you a clear view of what’s happening in and around your pool.
Another system that you would do well to consider is adding simple pool alarm systems. This alerts you when your kid is going outside and when they have entered the pool or the pool area in question.
You can never be too safe when there are children involved. Pool safety nets serve as additional protection not only to cover your pool but also to prevent drowning in kids, particularly when these don’t allow a child’s head from going through. Together, all of these pool safety systems help keep your precious children far from harm’s way.
Watch Your Kids at All Times
This already goes without saying that your children should be supervised by an adult at all times when they are in the swimming pool or at the pool area in general. Bear in mind that watchers should always be within arm’s reach so that they can immediately take action when something bad starts to happen.
Watchers should always keep their eyes on the kids they’re watching. This means that they should be alert and they should not use nor engage in distractive behavior, such as socializing with others, using gadgets, or even drinking alcohol.
Establish Pool Safety Rules
Children may not always be aware of certain swimming pool rules and regulations in place. Let them know what the pool rules are so that they can be mindful of what to observe. Some of the pool rules you should remind them of include not running around the pool, not pushing each other or diving in the pool, and never swimming without an adult present.
The Bottom Line
Keeping your kids safe at the pool takes a lot of time and effort. By installing mesh pool fences, and pool alarm systems, and even establishing pool rules, you can prevent the dangers from happening to your kids while they are at the pool.
