Home Insurance and Swimming Pool Safety

In some parts of the country, kids begin to splash at their local pools during early spring. Some families have their own pools in their own backyard. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, swimming is a favorite routine exercise to stay in shape. Swimming exercises the entire body without stressing the bones and joints, which can help overweight children regain their cardiovascular health.

Children may feel confident enough to hop into the pool without thinking twice. Unfortunately, this can prove fatal for the untrained swimmer. It is extremely important for all children to be supervised by an adult who can swim when playing in or around water. If one child lacks the ability to swim, then it can turn an exciting outing into a horror story. Drowning and injury are real threats for children. According to the Kansas Journal of Medicine, drowning ranks as the second-leading cause of injury-related fatalities for children between the ages of 1 to 14. The Consumer Product Safety Commission cites three hundred toddlers and young children under the age of five drowning in pools every year, making it a legitimate cause for concern. Children can also come in contact with unforeseen dangers at pools, such as viruses and bacteria. This can cause infection of the lungs, ears, eyes, and digestive system. Outdoor pools also attract swarms of mosquitoes and bees.

While these facts may startle some parents, certain precautions can prevent children from harm. In fact, parents can create several layers of protection that will safeguard their children from potential injury and death. For instance, parents should supervise their children constantly and discourage them from entering the pool without another person present. Parents should keep the pool clean to ensure that their children do not come in contact with viruses and bacteria. Erect a fence to keep kids out of an area with an in-ground pool. Install alarms to alert you if children enter the pool area unsupervised. Remove objects from around the pool that would cause playful kids to trip and fall into the water. Learn CPR to help resuscitate children who have had near-drowning incidents. Install the right poolside equipment and cleaning gear. Place floatation devices near the pool and encourage kids to wear a life vest until they master their swimming skills.

All of the preventive tips mentioned above will help keep kids safe while around residential and public pools. Follow these links to learn more about poolside safety for kids:

For Parents

• Pool Safely: Resources for Parents and Families
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Operating Public Swimming Pools Factsheet
• The American RedCross: Home Pool Safety
• HealthyChildren: Safety and Prevention for Parents
• ABC New’s Good Morning America: Pool Safety Tips for Parents
• Berkeley Parents Network: Swimming Pool Safety Q&A’s
• A Safety Guide for Home Swimming Pools and Spas (PDF)
• The Washington Department of Health: Pool Safety
• Your Child Development and Behavioral Resources: Water and Pool Safety
• The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI): Safety Guidelines for Home Pools
• A Parent’s Guide to Water Safety (PDF)
• Keep Your Kids Safe: Safety at a Public Pool
• Child Injury Prevention Alliance: Portable Pool Safety
• Nationwide Children’s Injury and Research Police: Pool Safety
• Young Kids at Risk in Home Pools
• ABC Pool Safety: Pool Drowning Facts
• Montgomery County Pennsylvania: Pool Safety Requirements
• Children’s Safety Network: Water Safety Resource Guide 2012 (PDF)
• Drowning Prevention Brochure: 9 Myths of Drowning (PDF)

For Children

• Danger Rangers: Water Safety for Kids
• Water Safe Kids: Water Safety
• Kids Health: Water Safety
• Water Safety Game: The Adventures of Splish and Splash
• Safe Passage: A Water Safety Educational Program (PDF)
• Water Safety is for YOU (PDF)
• Water Safety Lesson Plan (PDF)
• Some Interesting Facts About Swimming
• Water Safety Coloring and Activity Book (PDF)
• Swim and Survive: Water Safety Coloring Posters
• Swimtastic: Key Water Safety Tips for Kids
• Water Safety FUN for Kids!
• Know Your Water, Know Your Limits, Wear a Life Jacket!
• Wild Water Over Waterways (WOW): Water Safety for Kids
• Swimming and Water Safety Worksheet (PDF)
• ShoreThing: Heavy Weather Handling
• Drowning Prevention and Pool Safety Tips (PDF)
• Keep Your Head Above Water This Summer (PDF)
• Summer Water Safety: What You Absolutely Need to Know
• Water Safety WebQuest