5 Tips for Swimming Pool Safety

Nothing says summer like taking the kids to the pool. While it seems to take nearly as much time to get two squirmy little ones dressed and pack a bag with enough sunscreen, water, and snacks (if you know, you know) for all of us to have an enjoyable outing, there are some things we routinely leave at home – on purpose.

Drowning is the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4 in the U.S., and the fifth leading cause of unintentional injury death for people of all ages. For toddlers (children ages 1 to 4 years), swimming pools pose the greatest risk of drowning. Most drowning deaths in the toddler age group happen when children are not expected to be in the water.

Here are a few things I keep in mind to keep our kids safer on our family pool outings: 

• Age- and ability-appropriate supervision. My kids are 1 and 5 years old so I always bring a trusted adult with me to ensure both kids are always within arm’s reach. My toddler is content sitting and splashing but my bigger kid is much more curious and wants to explore both in and out of the water. I cannot safely wrangle them both alone.
• Limit distractions. When we’re at the pool, it’s eyes and ears on the kids at all times. Of course I bring my phone, but it gets tucked away in my bag once we’re poolside. No books, no drugs or alcohol, and if I’m chatting with other adults, I make sure we always have eyes and/or hands on our kids.
• Teach them swimming and water safety skills. Getting kids in the pool and enrolled in swim lessons is one of the most important things families can do to improve their children’s comfort and safety in and around water. My older child loves the water, and we started taking “Baby and Me” classes as soon as we could. My younger child tags along to swim lessons now and will start her own soon. Find Red Cross swim lessons near you. Just remember, swim lessons do not “drown-proof” a child - they still need constant supervision in and around water.
• Appropriate pool toys. Some pools will allow you to bring water toys. Always follow their rules. For your safety, do not use air-filled (like innertubes or water wings) or foam toys (like noodles) as safety devices. These toys are not life jackets and are not designed to keep swimmers safe.
• Appropriate flotation devices. If you choose to have your child wear a life jacket at the pool, it needs to be US Coast Guard approved, and should be used as an additional layer of safety, not replacing the need for adult supervision. When you’re on open water, remember, the littles follow our example - everyone on or near a boat should wear a properly fitted, US Coast Guard approved life jacket.

Let’s go slather on the sunscreen, find our flip flops, and make our way to our favorite summer activity!