Top 5 Pool Safety Tips for a Great Swim Season
Pool Safety, Texas Swim Academy, Texas Swim Academy Programs
Pool Safety Advice for Katy and Houston Parents
Swimming is one of the most popular warm weather activities. It is cool and refreshing and provides much needed relief from Houston’s warm temperatures – and it’s a great way to get in some fun activity and exercise time! As summer brings on the birthday pool parties, block parties, and dips at home, keep these 5 tips for pool safety in mind.
1. Establish and enforce pool supervision rules. Teach children to always ask before approaching water, to use the buddy system, and to never swim without adult supervision (meaning an adult is within arm’s reach, not watching through a window). Remind them of these rules frequently and emphasize them before swimming at home or going to places where there might be pools. If children are accustomed to asking permission, they are less likely to approach pools without your knowledge when you’re chatting with neighbors at a block party or taking a phone call.
2. Separate pools. Have fences at least 4 feet tall surrounding the entire pool’s perimeter, in addition to self-closing and latching gates that open outward to restrict pool access when an adult is not present. Check that pool covers are in working order. Put all toys away when not in use as they can attract children to pool areas when unsupervised. Pool alarms are also helpful in alerting you if children wander into the pool area when you’re cooking dinner inside or barbecuing outside.
3. Learn how to swim. Ensure that all members of your household know to swim well and that youngsters wear approved life jackets. (For more information on swim lessons for every member of the family, visit our survival swim and stroke development pages.)
4. Know how to respond in case of an emergency. Become CPR certified and learn how to respond in case of an emergency. Have reaching or throwing devices, as well as appropriate emergency numbers and a first aid kit readily available.
5. Check for compliance. Check that pool drain covers comply with the P&SS Act and that any public pools you frequent comply with local, state, and federal laws. Don’t be shy; ask party hosts if their pools have anti-entrapment drain covers or if they would like another adult to help supervise swimmers. Prevention is the best way to ensure safe pool environments and avoid accidental drowning injuries.
Apply these tips to ensure optimal pool safety and fun. Be safe and swim on!
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Texas Swim Academy is an infant, child and adult swim lesson facility. The academy strives to introduce children to water at an early age through survival swim, and to fully develop their swim stroke abilities through adulthood through stroke development. Children are taught life saving swim safety skills and have the option to prepare for competitive swim team. Texas Swim Academy also offers parent-child classes to grow the bond between parent and child and to provide a seamless, comfortable introduction to water for children. To learn more about Texas Swim Academy’s swim lessons, infant aquatics and other programs, please call (832) 437-6186.