- All children regardless of age need to be fully supervised when around water
- Children can drown in as little as 1-2 inches of water
- Swimming pools, lakes, rivers and the ocean are obvious sources of water but you must also be vigilant of bathtubs, buckets/pails, ice chests, toilets, hot tubs, wells and fountains.
- All children age 4 and older should have swimming lessons by a qualified instructor. The American Academy of Pediatrics is no longer against swimming lessons for children age 1-4 but good judgment should be used to your child's development before enrolling.
- Remember that a child that knows how to swim does not mean they are "safe".
- Do not allow children to swim in areas where there are boats, fisherman, large waves, undertows or no lifeguards.
Swimming Pool Rules
- When near a swimming pool it is imperative that rules be followed to keep your child safe.
- Never leave your child alone in or near a pool, even for a few seconds
- If your child is 5 years or younger they should always be within arms reach of you
- Always keep rescue equipment and a telephone near the pool
- Keep toys away from the pool when not in use
- Empty kiddie pools when not in use
- Do not allow any riding toys or bikes around the swimming pool, even with supervision
- No diving into a shallow pool
- No running on the pool deck
Pool Fences
- A swimming pool ALWAYS needs a fence around it!
- All pools should have a fence around it including above ground pools and inflatable above ground pools. The only exception to this is a kiddy pool that can be emptied when it is not in use.
- The fence needs to be at least 4 feet high and no more than 4 inches between vertical slats.
- The fence needs to be climb resistant with no hand or footholds that would assist a child in climbing it.
- The gate needs to be well maintained and self-closing and self-latching. The latch should be at least 54 inches from the ground. The gate should only open away from the pool.
- A pool cover is not a substitute for a fence.