Re: Blasé attitudes about pools

I wouldn't be that concerned about the lack of additional fence but more about all the parents lack of supervision. Of friend of mind has an inground pool and all the adults are always around the pool watching there chiildren.

If a parent has to step away for a minute they will ask another parent to keep an eye on the kid. I wouldn't trust a lifeguard to watch my child at a friends house or a public pool for that matter. It is my job and they are there just in case someone gets in trouble and needs help.

Re: Blasé attitudes about pools

As the pool owner, I am responsible. DS just had a pool party and had 12 6 yo boys in the pool. I hired a certified lifeguard and all the parents were in the pool area.

Afterwards the lifeguard's mom told me how easy the job was, b/c all the parents were there. So I can guess that many parties don't have much supervision.

Now that my kids are strong swimmers and older...I can relax a bit though. We were at the beach yesterday and my two older ones went into the water. Granted it was low tide and they could stand by the buoys marking the swim zone and there were lifeguards - I wasn't watching their every move.

3-5 seems young to leave unsupervised.

Re: Blasé attitudes about pools

I dont think your friend did anything wrong- in fact, she even listened to you and hired someone to watch the pool ( BTW- are you sure the girl wasnt certified?)

I think its always the parents responsibility to watch their own kids in the pool.

DH's aunt has an inground pool with no fence or alarm and my DS or DD are never left alone for even a second. That's my responsibility as their parent, I wouldnt for a second ever think the pool owner is at fault for not having those precautions.

And for the person who said noone is allowed into a pool without a life vest.... I'm just shocked at the nerve of that. My daughter has taken swim classes and DH and I refuse to let her use any flotation device anymore. As long as I'm supervising her,as her parent, that's all that matters.

Re: Blasé attitudes about pools

I don't think you are paranoid at ALL. I would be the exact same way. My SIL has a pool and her kids are 6, 8 and 11 and would you believe parents want to do drop-off play dates at her pool??? She has a strict rule of no pool unless their own parent is there and people have gotten annoyed at her because of it.

Re: Blasé attitudes about pools

My neighbor has parents dropping off FOUR YEAR OLDS for pool playdates. I kid you not. And she has 3 kids herself, so it's not like anyone is getting one-on-one attention in the pool.