Protect Your Children from Common Pool Hazards

Summertime often means that many families are seeking relief from the heat, and a swimming pool is a popular place to hang out. Whether at home or at a local community pool, you can help protect your children from these common swimming pool hazards. Here are tips to help keep your family safe this summer.

Use Sun Protection

The sun is strongest at the hottest part of the day, so it is important to use sun protection when visiting the pool. Regularly apply a high SPF sunscreen, and reapply after toweling off. A sport formula provides additional waterproofing to make your sunscreen last longer. Take breaks in the shade, and cover skin with long clothing whenever possible. Hats and sunglasses can provide additional protection. Sunburns are not only painful, but can increase your risk of melanoma and other cancers.

Avoid Horseplay

Often, children and teens want to wrestle, run, and jump into the water, but this kind of horseplay can lead to a number of accidents and injuries. Slipping and falling can cause fractures, lacerations, and even serious head and spinal injuries. Jumping into shallow water or around other swimmers can increase the risk of serious injuries or drowning. Diving into the water can also increase the risk of head, neck, and spinal injuries. Teach your children to walk in the pool area and to avoid jumping into water that isn’t deep and clear of objects.

Always Supervise Children

Ensure that there is a designated adult or two to watch the pool area. If there are young children in the pool, and adult should always be within arm’s reach of them. Familiarize yourself with the location of rescue tools. If you have a pool, place these tools in a conspicuous and accessible location, along with instructions to perform CPR and emergency numbers.

Protect Your Family from Illness

Pool water can easily spread bacteria, which can cause illness for swimmers who come into contact with the bacteria. In your own pool, you can combat the spread of disease by properly filtering and treating your pool. If you have an open wound, avoid swimming until it has healed. Prevent pets from entering the pool, and rinse off before and after swimming. Never swallow pool water, and try to prevent it from entering your mouth. Do not allow children in diapers in the pool, unless they are wearing swim diapers. If you are uncertain about the cleanliness of the pool, don’t go in.

Reduce Danger at Home

If you have a pool in your yard, you can take steps to prevent accidents. Enclose your pool with a sturdy, tall fence. Ensure all gates are self-latching and cannot be reached by children. Always balance your pool’s chemical treatments properly, and store chemicals in a cool, dry place. Clean your pool often and keep it clear of debris. Never use ungrounded electrical equipment near the pool, and install ground circuit fault interrupter (GFCI) outlets in the pool area.

At Goldstein, Heslop, Steele, Clapper, Oswalt, and Smith, we hope that your family has a safe and happy summer. Should you or a loved one be injured in an accident, you can trust that our team of Altoona personal injury lawyers is prepared to help you fight for the compensation you deserve. Learn how we can help with your claim.