How do I keep my kids safe at the pool?

Publish date: 2022-03-21

For some people, it's a rite of spring: the first plunge into the backyard pool, opening day at the local water park. Others splash year-round in indoor pools or tropically warm outdoors. Either way, swimming is a favorite way to stay in shape, the third most popular type of exercise in the United States [source: National Sporting Goods Association]. Swimming is especially good exercise for children. It works all of the major muscle groups and improves cardiovascular health. Unlike many other sports, it doesn't stress the bones and joints in ways that could damage still-developing skeletal systems, particularly in overweight children.

Yet, even for youngsters who take to the water like sea otters, drowning and injury are real threats that can turn a fun-filled outing into a frightening, even fatal ordeal. Drowning is the second-leading cause of injury-related death in children aged 1 to 14 [source: Kansas Journal of Medicine]. Those under age 5 are especially vulnerable, with a death rate twice that of older children [source: Safe Kids USA]. About 300 toddlers and preschoolers drown in pools and spas every year, and another 3,000 are hospitalized with swimming-related injuries [source: Consumer Product Safety Commission].

For survivors and their families, the outlook can be grim. Caring for a near-drowning survivor who suffers brain damage can cost up to $180,000 a year [source: Kansas Journal of Medicine]. Of course, the price paid in grief and emotional trauma can't be counted.

Other unseen danger lurks in the form of disease-causing viruses and bacteria in the pool water, often carried by the swimmers themselves. These microbes can result in irritation and infection of the eyes, ears, lungs and digestive tract. Outdoor pools also carry added risk: The combination of standing water, bare skin and food at pool parties lures mosquitoes and some types of bees. Their bites and stings can make you miserable. If they spread encephalitis or cause allergic reactions, they can kill.

These facts should give you pause. However, while accidents will happen, they don't have to happen to you. You can create a safe environment through "layers of protection," a favorite term of safety experts. That includes a hazard-free setting, proper equipment and safety-savvy kids. In this article, we break down each of those components, starting with another old saying: "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure."

Contents
  • Pool Safety Precautions
  • Pool Safety Equipment
  • Pool Safety Rules

    • Pool Safety Precautions

    Trouble can brew in your own backyard -- or your neighbor's -- when it comes to backyard pools. To keep the lid on trouble, try these pre-emptive measures:

    Faithfully following these rules is one layer of protection, but it can still leave safety gaps. The next page describes equipment that helps to fill them.

    Pool Safety Equipment

    Safety equipment is most important pool accessory you can buy. Some of those listed below are required by state and local law. Definitions of what's acceptable vary, however; homeowners should check with building officials to make sure they're in compliance.

    Even if your own pool is accident-resistant, children may still encounter dangerous swimming situations. Read the next page for rules that help kids watch out for themselves and their friends.

    Pool Safety Rules

    Smart swimming habits start at home. The best assurance that children will follow your words of wisdom is to set an example. If you're not a swimmer, showing respect for the risks and the knowledge of experts in other situations promotes the same attitude when kids take to the water.

    These measures may seem to eliminate every danger. Yet there's always that one-in-a-thousand case where the safeguards fail. If a child goes missing, check the pool first. The few minutes it takes can save the life of a child and a lifetime of pain and remorse for a family.

    What to Look For in Swimming Lessons

    Studies suggest that for children aged 1 to 5, swimming lessons can't hurt and probably help to prevent drowning, contrary to fears that they give parents a false sense of security and kids a false sense of confidence. On the other hand, there's no guarantee that children won't panic and forget what they've learned if they fall into a pool accidentally. Remember, too, that lessons, like other safety measures, can't replace adult supervision.

    That being said, these are some of the qualities that mark a good program for youngsters:

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