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Splashtacular: Ensuring Summer Safety

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By Mia Bolaris-Forget

My friends have been busy tending to their gardens, firing up their grills, and getting the pool ready for their kids. But, while sunning and funning with the family is a familiar activity we are all eagerly looking forward to, it can also be “dangerous” for the little ones. With that said, experts offer their 2 cents of keeping kids safe by the poolside this, and every summer.

1. Always keep an eye on the pool and check the pool area immediately if you don’t hear you child playing or don’t see them or hear from them if they don’t respond, especially after you’ve called.

2. Make sure kids are supervised at all times, even those who may be a bit older and/or already know how to swim. Remember, kids can get into “trouble” simply by accident and clowning around.

3. Invest in a pool alarm. These make great safety devices and they are made for both doors and underwater.

4. Know your neighbourhood. Vacant homes or those with occupants at work that feature either an above-ground or in-ground pool can be a hazard to your children. Experts suggest doing a Google search (satellite view) of your immediate area and familiarizing yourself with what’s around. If unsupervised pool properties pose a problem help correct it and protect your kids with a simple phone call to the owner or real estate agent. Ask about having hem add a lock to the side quite or an alarm to the area to prevent or warm a child wondering there.

5. Drain damage can be dangerous, especially since it can trap long hair and limbs. So, if your pool drain is broken or missing, replace it or fix it. And, if your child has long hair secure it back or up, keeping it out of harm’s way. It’s also a good idea to know where the pool circuit breaker is just in case you have to shut it down immediately in case of emergency

6. Invest in age-appropriate and adequate safety devices for your kid or kids to wear at all times while IN the pool. While floaties are certainly an options, remember they can slip off if not secure and tight. Consider also a swim suit with a built-in floatation device or one that securely wraps around the waist.

7. Identify all areas in, out, and around the house that could get kids hurt and/or in trouble. And, if you want to take it a step further install a camera and/or a “baby monitor” so that you can see and hear all that’s going on at all times.

8. Get the scoop on friends and play dates. Remember, any time a child is at your home you are the one in charge and the one responsible for the child’s well being. Make sure you check with mom and dad to ensure the child knows how to swim, and or has the proper protective gear. If the answer to one or both is “no”, securely section off and lock the area and don’t forget to ask about a pool on premise when YOU drop YOUR child off.

9. Make sure to do your homework before heading to the park or recreation area. Find out if there’s a pool and where it is. Then, make sure there’s no way your kids can get to it, at least if they are unsupervised.

10. Install a pool fence around the entire pool and make sure it is several feet tall, no shorter than 4-feet. And, make sure there’s also a secure, out of child’s reach latch and/or lock on it too.


Long Island Safety Articles > Splashtacular: Ensuring Summer Safety

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