Pool & Water Safety

Here are some pool safety reminders to help prevent accidents and to keep your family and friends safe.

Pool Supervision

Adult supervision is a key element in getting the maximum, safest enjoyment from your pool. Never let children under the age of 14 swim unsupervised in a pool. Constant, vigilant supervision of infants and children is paramount at all times.

One individual must assume primary responsibility for supervising the pool and consistently enforcing pool rules.

Set pool rules and stick by them. Don't allow running around the pool, which can easily cause slips to occur. Insist on safe diving and proper use of diving boards, slides and other water toys.

Pool rules should be clearly communicated and understood by all persons - young or old - who use your pool.

Never swim alone or allow others to do so.

Be sure access to your pool area meets or exceeds local codes to keep children and uninvited guests from using your pool unsupervised.

Swimming Ability

Always find out whether or not guests can swim. Supervise guests who can't swim the way you would a child.

If you're uncomfortable with someone's swimming abilities, make sure they stay in the shallow water area and watch them closely.

Pay special attention to educating young children and non-swimmers about important safety precautions.

Diving & Sliding

The chief danger for divers or headfirst sliders is serious spinal injury. Serious spinal injuries can occur even at very slow speeds if the head strikes firmly against the pool bottom or side. Any diving board, rock, platform or slide should be inspected prior to use to affirm that its installation conforms to applicable industry standards and government regulations

DO...

• Know the shape of the pool bottom and the water depth before you dive or slide headfirst.
• Plan your path to avoid submerged obstacles, surface objects or other swimmers.
• Hold your head up, arms up, and steer up with your hands.
• Keep arms extended and head and hands up.
• Practice carefully before you dive or slide headfirst.
• Test the diving board for its spring before using.
• Remember that when you dive down, you must steer up.
• Dive straight ahead - not off the side of a diving board.

DON'T...

• Drink and dive.
• Dive into an above-ground pool.
• Dive into a pool not meeting a "diving pool" standard.
• Dive or slide headfirst in the shallow part of the pool.
• Dive across the narrow part of pools.
• Run and dive.
• Dive from any place that is not specifically designed for diving.
• Engage in horseplay on diving or sliding equipment.
• Use diving equipment as a trampoline.
• Do a back dive; backyard pools are not built for this dangerous dive.
• Try fancy dives; keep the dives simple.
• Dive or slide headfirst at or through objects such as inner tubes.
• Put diving or sliding equipment on a pool that wasn't designed for it.
• Swim or dive alone.
• Dive into unfamiliar bodies of water.

Medical Precautions

• Strongly consider having at least one family member trained in basic CPR.
• Keep a wireless telephone near, but not too close, to the pool.
• Keep a first aid kit including written instructions on how to administer CPR