Practice Pool Safety this summer

Supervision is the key word when it comes to pool safety, but supervision combined with a variety of barriers and safety devices - fences, latched gates, locked doors, pool covers and more - goes even further toward drowning prevention. This year Wagontown urges residents to make their summer get a ways safer for themselves and their guests.

Poolside

Keep a phone in the pool area. Do not answer the phone while your children are in the pool: use the phone only to call 911 should a problem occur.
Post 911 emergency number on the phone to remind people to call 911 for emergencies.
Have a First Aid Kit nearby.
Keep basic lifesaving equipment by the pool and know how to use these items. A ring buoy, Sheppard's hook, life preserver, and U.S. Coats Guard approved personal flotation devices are recommended.
An alarm bell that could summon help would be a good idea.
 

Supervision

Assign a Water Watcher during gatherings where children are present. The premise of the "Water Watcher" program is to assign an adult a specific time period in which their only responsibility is watching that the children playing in pools or open water are safe and accounted for. Designated Water Watchers don't drink alcohol!

Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. Never leave small children unsupervised - even for a few seconds. Never go into the house to answer the phone leaving a child unattended in the pool area. If a child is missing check the pool first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, as well as the surrounding area.

Learn

Learn child CPR, which differs slightly from adult CPR. Insist that babysitters, grandparents and others who care for your child know child CPR. Post adult and child CPR instructions in the pool area. For the nearest CPR class contact your Fire Dept., Red Cross or Hospital.

Teach your children how to swim or get them swimming lessons. Remember, teaching your child to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in the water. Never rely on swimming lessons to protect your child. Twenty- five percent of all drowning victims have had swimming lessons. Be sure all pool users know how to swim. Learners should be accompanied by a good swimmer.

Teach your children what to do in an emergency.

Rules

Pool rules should be clearly communicated and understood by all persons - young or old - who use your pool.

Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them. Keep toys away from the pool when it is not in use. Toys can attract young children into the pool.

Never dive into an above ground pool. Check water depth before plunging into an in ground pool. Keep clear of the area near the diving board.

Never swim alone or allow others to do so.

Keep CD players, radios and other electrical devices a significant distance from the pool area or nearby wet surfaces because the hazard of electrical shock. Don't use extension cords. Use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on any appliance or any electrical device used poolside.

Do not let your child use air filled "swimming aids" because they are not  a substitute for approved life vests and can be dangerous.

Don't let young children or children who cannot swim use inflatable toys or mattresses in water that is above the waist.

Stay out of pool during rain or lightning storms.

Encourage your neighbors to follow pool safety guidelines, including keeping their gates and doors locked, and their pool gates securely closed and latched.