Swimming Pool Safety
Swimming pools are a big deal in Florida. However, tragically, Florida has the highest drowning rate for young children in the country. Dozens of children drown in Florida each year. Most drownings are preventable if you’re careful when it comes to swimming pool safety and take important measures to protect yourself and your family. If you own a pool, you should make safety your number one priority and protect friends and family. Here are some tips to stay safe:
Make Sure Your Pool has a Protective Barrier
Florida lawrequires pool owners to surround their pools with a 4-foot high fence or barrier. This barrier should contain a self-closing and self-latching gate. Pool fences should never be climbable and should never have gaps that would allow a child to go through. You should also make sure to never have anything near the fence that can be used to climb over it. You may want to consider placing a safety cover over the pool when not in use. In the case of above-ground pools, make sure to remove any ladders for access.
Children Should be Actively Supervised
Stay within arm’s reach of younger children while they are in the pool. This is especially true if they aren’t strong swimmers. Don’t allow anyone to swim alone and be sure to designate someone to keep an eye on older children who are in the pool.
Learn to Swim
Even if you don’t own a pool, it’s a good idea to make sure that everyone in your home knows how to swim. Enroll everyone in the family in age-appropriate swim classes. You can find approved safety swim classes on the American Red Cross website.
Enforce Pool Rules
Inform your guests and family of the pool rules. These rules should include “no diving,” “walk don’t run,” “stay away from drain covers,” and “always swim with a buddy.” Consider posting signs.
Take a Safety Course
Make sure that at least one person in your home has some training on how to respond to an emergency in the pool. Have appropriate safety gear and first aid supplies available and make sure someone has been trained in CPR.
Practice Diving Safety
Make sure the water is deep enough for safe diving before a diving board is installed. When you’re in someone else’s pool, it doesn’t hurt to double check. Check the area under the diving board to make sure it is clear of other swimmers. Never dive into an above ground pool and never dive in the shallow end of a pool.
If you’ve been injured in a swimming pool, you should have an attorney evaluate your case. Contact the trusted lawyers at Abrahamson & Uiterwyk onlineor call us at 1-800-538-4878 to schedule your free consultation.