Pools can be the center of fun in the summer months, but can also cause stress to parents of young ones. Here are some simple tips to help make your backyard oasis safe!
Fence your pool on all four sides with a five foot fence (whether or not your county bi-laws require it).
The fence should be equipped with a self locking gate, with the latch high enough to be out of reach of little hands.
Do not place patio furniture close to the outside of the pool fence. Kids are known to climb and will use this as a boost to get over the fence and into the pool area.
Infants and toddlers (under the age of 4) should be wearing a life jacket and not inflatable swimming aids such as “floaties”. They should always be within arms length of a supervising adult, this is called touch supervision. Even if the child has participated in swimming lessons they should not be left alone in the pool.
All doors and windows leading to the pool area should be locked and secure to avoid little ones escaping to the backyard unnoticed. Keep pool toys packed away when not in use to make the backyard less tempting!
Keep rescue items and a telephone close by when the pool is in use. Every family should also have a 1st aid kit close by to the pool! Taking a course on CPR is also beneficial for parents and guardians.
Remember to keep yourself and your family safe from the sun as well as the water! Ask your family doctor which SPF is recommended for each member of your family. Most doctors also believe infants younger than 6 months of age should stay completely out of the sun, and always be kept in the shade when outdoors! Remember to coat on the sunscreen even on cloudy days!
Remember to stay hydrated and keep a cooler full of drinks close by! Monitor how much children are drinking when outdoors, sometimes there is just too much fun going on to remember!
Make sure your family is familiar with your Pool Rules, and make sure your guests follow them as well. Sticking to the rules daily and having a system in place when rules are avoided! Make sure babysitters are also comfortable supervising the pool and aware of any rules in place that you may have.
Ask in the store for details on different safety devises we have available, such as gate alarms, to help make pool safety easier!
HAVE FUN!
Talk soon,
Liana vandenHof-Rhodenizer
No comments:
Post a Comment