Keeping Your Kids Safe: Pool Safety Tips

While having small kids doesn't mean you can't have a pool, it does mean you will have to take certain precautions to protect your children. Here are a few ways to ensure that your kids can enjoy the fun of having a pool in their own backyard, without compromising their safety.

Never leave children unsupervised around the pool. Whether or not they are swimming, always make sure that there is an adult around if the kids are playing around the pool. You might want to also make sure that your nanny or babysitters are all trained in CPR, just in case something happens.

Install a fence around the pool. The pool should always be surrounded by a fence on all four sides. The fence needs to be 4 or 5 feet high, and the gates should swing shut by themselves. The gates also need to self-latch, and the latch should be higher than a small child can reach, to prevent your children from letting themselves in to the pool. I live in Dallas, where this is customary. Many local pool builders in Dallas will install a fence for you.

Keep rescue equipment handy. There should always be a life preserver and a shepherd's hook near the pool, so that if a kid falls in you don't have to go looking for this important rescue equipment. A shepherd's hook is the long pole with a hook at the end that you often see near pools.

Install a telephone near the pool. You might want to have a telephone installed near the pool, so that if a child falls in, you can call 911 right there. While most people these days carry cell phones, you can't count on someone always having one on them when they are poolside, so a landline is a good safety precaution.

Remove all toys from pool when not in use. Toys floating about in the pool can be tempt small children into trying to reach for them, causing themselves to fall in. To avoid this, remove all toys from the pool when the kids are done swimming, even if you aren't putting the cover on.

Use a power safety cover. A good cover should meet the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials. Using a cover when the pool is not in use will help to prevent kids from accidentally falling into the pool when adults aren't around.

Set and enforce strict rules for poolside play. Your kids should know that certain rules are to be obeyed when they are playing in or around the pool. For instance, running and diving should be prohibited, and you might want to require that kids under 5 wear safety vests when they are in or around the pool. The number one rule should always be that no one is allowed in the pool area without an adult present.

By following these tips and setting some rules for your kids regarding playtime in or around the pool, you can keep your kids safe while still letting them enjoy having a pool in their backyard!