May is an exciting time in the Northeast. As we head toward Summer, the weather is about to get very warm later this week, and in honor of National Water Safety Month (all of May), we know that for many, moving into a new home in Nassau or Suffolk County can be an overwhelming experience with so many responsibilities. Yet, we can’t let the safety of our children take a back seat. So, before you move into a new home and before you get your pool open (for many on Long Island, that has already occurred), follow these three child safety tips when you live in a home with a pool.
1. Teach your kids how to swim and educate them about water safety. It’s an investment, not a cost. Check with your local municipality for a list of licensed local centers or swimming pool operators that offer swimming classes. Start while they are young to also build confidence in your young ones.
2. Install multiple layers of safety including pool safety fences, door alarms, self-latching gates, and pool covers. While these barriers do not guarantee complete protection, having a pool fence does better at keeping toddlers out of your swimming pool than not having any barrier at all. Most local governments require homeowners to install a fence around their swimming pool. This is because pool safety fences create a physical boundary that will keep most kids, especially the smaller ones, out of harm’s way. It is advisable to install self-latching pool gates and pool alarms to secure your fence especially at times when you cannot be close to the pool to supervise your kids. By installing a pool alarm, you’ll be automatically informed.
3. Close and constant supervision from one or more attentive adults is very important – stay 100% safety focused. Whether it is you or another adult you trust, close supervision especially when there are children around your pool is a must. It doesn’t matter whether your child knows how to swim or not. Even a good swimmer can’t always avoid a pool accident. It is obviously preferred to choose someone who knows how to swim and perform CPR well enough to help a child or even an adult in case of an accident. If you don’t know how to perform CPR, there are classes available to learn it and get proper certification. As the owner of the pool, you may also impose rules, and it is important not be lenient about these rules. Remember that the safety of kids and everyone around your pool becomes your responsibility. You have to be mindful and 100% aware when it comes to the safety of all children near your pool. Other parents at your home are not in their familiar surroundings and will rely on you to oversee the pool, or any other bodies of water near your home. If you are out East in the Hamptons, this may even extend to the Ocean areas with beach front property for example.
Every precaution you take is a step towards preventing pool accidents. The safety of your kids should be prioritized over fun when using your pool. The above 3 tips will surely help you avoid accidents we all don’t want to happen.
For more swimming pool safety tips, download our Swimming Pool Safety eGuide and share it with someone you know. If you have questions about the different types of swimming pool barriers or the installation of pool fences, pool gates, and alarms, call us at (516) 766-5336 today.