Prevent Summertime Drowning Dangers

from ozarksfirst.com

 Two children die everyday in the U.S. from drowning but, thankfully, there are ways parents and loved ones can protect children around water.

Temperatures are climbing around the country and many families are taking to the water for a little relief. But as you cool off it's important to take precautions to reduce the risk of drowning- whether you're at the pool, lake, or the ocean.

The top priority is making sure children are properly supervised by an alert adult.

Most drownings occur quickly and quietly with little or no yelling or splashing. The CDC suggests people learn CPR to help out in case of an emergency.

And although it may seem obvious, adults and children should know how to swim. But even if you're child is a strong swimmer, it's a good idea to use the buddy system. Experts recommend that weak swimmers use life jackets as well as all boaters - adults and children.

If you have a backyard pool, it's important to install fencing and locks, and consider a pool alarm or cover. If you have small children, remove toys after swimming to prevent them from jumping in to retrieve them when unsupervised.

Swimming is great exercise, and staying safe can make for a great day of fun in the sun.

Teaching kids to swim and love the water reduces drowning risk

The right age to start swimming lessons and how to make the most of the experience

from Chicago Parent

Summer and swimming go hand in hand. Whether it's at the beach, taking a dip in the backyard pool or boating on a lake, water tends to be our warm-weather entertainment. But as fun as it is, it can be deadly.

Drowning is the number one cause of death for kids under 4 and the second cause of death for those under 14, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Most heartbreaking is that drowning can be prevented.

The simplest way to reduce the risk is to invest in swimming lessons.

Starting kids young

If your child takes swimming lessons, there is an 88 percent reduction of a drowning risk. And Sara Batchelor, director of operations at Dolphin Swim Club, says it is never too late-and never too early-to get them swimming.

"Start an infant at just a few months old and they will never be fearful of the water, and swimming will be just as natural as water," Batchelor says.

She recommends starting in a program that caters to young children.

Alexandria Shanklin, a psychotherapist, recommends starting with a class where a parent can be involved.

"They'll feel secure with you holding them in the water and associate being in the water with being with you," Shanklin says.

Picking a swim school

Regardless of age, choose the swim school most suitable for your child.

Kim Burgess, executive director of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance, says the instructor is the most important part. "I would suggest that like any other profession, the parent interview the instructor."

Find out what certifications they have, how long they have been teaching, their teaching style, and if they have experience with your child's age group and ability.

Look for a small class size. Batchelor says to make sure the swim school teaches kids according to their ability, not an age chart.

Getting the most out of lessons

In addition to learning to swim, taking swim lessons can increase your child's confidence and improve their social, cognitive and physical development. It's also great experience listening to a teacher, sharing and learning to take turns.

Batchelor advises parents to be consistent and positive.

"Even telling the instructor in front of your child, 'He doesn't like water on his face,' emphasizes a child's negative feelings and can transfer your concern to your child," Batchelor says.

Having your child know how to swim is the first step to having a safe relationship with water, but it doesn't stop there.

"Even if a child learns to swim, they are never totally safe," says Gerald M. Dworkin, aquatics safety and water rescue consultant.

This article appeared in the May 2013 edition of Chicago Parent.

 Simple Steps Save Lives

from Poolsafely.gov

Learn how simple safety steps save lives in and around pools and spas.

Parents and families can build on their current safety systems at pools and spas by adopting additional water safety steps. Adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience, because you can never know which one might save a child's life—until it does.

Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your child when he or she is in or near water

Teach children basic water safety tips

Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments

Have a telephone close by when you or your family is using a pool or spa

If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first

Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors

Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim

Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly

Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency

Install a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools.

Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa.

If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install door alarms and always use them. For additional protection, install window guards on windows facing pools or spas.

Install pool and gate alarms to alert you when children go near the water

Ensure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask your pool service provider if you do not know

Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order

Consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm

Celebrate Water Safety Month by getting your child swimming lessons

from Cameo Pools

 Time to get the swimming pools open. Summer is almost here!

But wait! Have you reviewed water safety with your family and friends? May has been National Water Safety Month; a great cause we feel is worth promoting.

Did you know that drowning still remains the second leading cause of unintentional injury and death in children ages 1 to 19 years, accounting for about 1,100 child deaths per year? (1) Yikes.

Here are our 10 Tips for Water Safety around Swimming Pools:

Buddy Up: Never swim alone.

Never leave a young child alone near the pool.

Buckle Up: Have young children and inexperienced swimmers wear approved life jackets around water.

Follow the Rules: Make sure your family and guests know and follow the water safety guidelines you have set.

Stay clear of the pool during bad weather.

Feet First: Jump into shallow water never dive.

Know Your Limits: Do not let anyone swim when they are tired or have impaired judgment.

Don't Go—Reach or Throw: Assist someone in trouble by reaching with a pole or broom, or throw a ring or ball.

Take a water safety-training course through the Red Cross.

Learn to Swim!

That last point about swimming lessons is very important. The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reported that overall, 37% of Americans are unable to swim. Even more adults are fearful around pools; in a study performed by the Gallup organization, 46% of adults are afraid of the deep end of a pool. Keep in mind when you plan summer get-togethers and parties in the backyard that not everyone is a confident swimmer.

Not only do swimming lessons help prevent accidents and drowning, swimming is really great exercise. In a study comparing different forms of exercise, "swimmers had a 50% and 49% lower all-cause mortality risk than did men who were walkers or runners." (2)

So while you get your swimming pools ready, remember water safety and get yourself ready for a safe, healthy, and happy summer!

WATER SAFETY AT HOME

from Safe Kids Worldwide

We know water is everywhere. So to make it easy, we divided it into three categories: Water in the home, swimming safety and boating safety.

Here you'll find everything you need to know about water in the home. Whether you're bathing your baby in the sink or splashing around with your toddler in the bathtub, water is great fun for kids. But it's also a place where safety must come first, so here are a few tips for kids who love to get wet.

The Hard Facts

Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related death among children between 1 and 4 years old. And it's the third leading cause of death among children.

Top Tips

Never leave your child unattended around water. We know it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.

Put the cell phone away, forget about all the other things you have to do and give young children 100 percent of your attention when they are near or around water.

Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach.

Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning. It's also a good idea to keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.

Parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace of mind – and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better.

Don't Leave Kids Alone in or Around Water

Never leave your child unattended around water. We know it sounds strict, but there is no room for compromise on this one. Babies can drown in as little as one inch of water.

Put the cell phone away, forget about all the other things you have to do and give young children 100 percent of your attention when they are near or around water.

When using inflatable or portable pools, remember to empty them immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach. These types of pools can pose a drowning risk.

Remove Water From Tubs and Buckets After Use

Once bath time is over, immediately drain the tub.

Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and wading pools immediately after use. Store them upside down and out of children's reach.

Close Lids and Doors

Keep toilet lids closed and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning.

Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.

Learn CPR

Parents have a million things to do, but learning CPR should be on the top of the list. It will give you tremendous peace of mind – and the more peace of mind you have as a parent, the better.

Pool Safety Tips for Memorial Day Weekend

from NBC Washington

Public and private pools across the D.C. area will open in just a few days for Memorial Day weekend. As you and your family gets ready for some summer fun, there are steps you can take to keep you and your children safe.

Laura Metro, founder of the C.L.A.Y Foundation, shared several easy tips oon saving lives this summer.

Click here

Pool Safety: 7 Essential Tips

Posted on May 13, 2013 by Johnson Pools and Spas

No matter how much experience you have owning and operating your pool, it's still important to receive a refresher course on essential pool-safety procedures. With summer right around the corner, now's a great time to revisit pool safety to ensure a fun-filled summer free of accidents and injuries.

Your pool-safety refresher course should cover proper procedures for storing and handling chemicals, posting signage and making sure areas around the pool are safe for family and guests.

Here are seven pool-safety tips.

1. Organize chemical storage

The start of the pool season is a great time to fine-tune your pool chemical storage procedures. You might be light on inventory and ready to make your first trip to your local dealer. But before doing so, look at your storage area and consider making a few changes. Jerry Pierrottie, environmental health and safety (EHS) manager with Arch Chemicals, Inc., now part of Lonza, suggests creating a divider to separate sanitizers, shocks and other maintenance products to avoid chemical reactions.

"Put a divider in between [chemical containers] or make cubby holes," Pierrottie says. "If you don't have a divider, keep containers four feet apart or put liquids in secondary containment to control possible spills."

2. Don't mix or pre-dissolve chemicals

Pool chemicals are designed to work alone, and Pierrottie cautions against mixing different chemicals together.

"Some products are very reactive, and some are less reactive," he says. "Mixing chemicals can result in a little generation of heat, gasses and chlorine odor or [can escalate to] excessive heat and explosions."

Jane Merritt, owner of Anchor Pools in Easley, S.C., adds that pool owners should never pre-dissolve chemicals in a bucket before treating a pool, especially for shock treatments. Instead, apply the products directly to the pool water to avoid potential chemical burns or a chemical reaction.

3. Safely clean up chemical spills

Chemical spills are a part of owning and maintaining a pool, but it's how you deal with the spills that's most important. Pierrottie suggests incorporating safe clean-up practices to make sure spills don't escalate from a minor incident to a hazardous situation.

"Clean up one chemical at a time to avoid causing any reactions," he says. "Liquids should be mopped up or absorbed, and solids should be swept up and put directly into your pool."

If you wipe up spills with a rag, place the rag in the pool to let the chemicals rinse off in the water, Pierrottie says.

4. Read pool product labels and MSDS

Before handling any chemicals, it's important to read the directions on chemical labels, Pierrottie says. Additionally, Pierrottie suggests keeping material safety data sheets (MSDS) on hand so you can refer to them should any questions arise.

Merritt gives her customers an online safety checklist provided by The Association of Pool and Spa Professionals (APSP). "Before summer, you can go through the checklist on your own to make sure everything is up to [the APSP's] safety standards," she says.

5. Texturize your deck surface

Safety procedures go beyond the products you use to maintain your pool. A shiny finish on your deck or the concrete surrounding your pool can be aesthetically appealing, but it can cause slips and injuries. Merritt suggests washing slick concrete areas with muriatic acid, which eats away at the top layer of concrete and leaves a textured, slip-free surface.

"With proper research, this is a preventive measure that pool owners can do themselves," she says.

6. Establish rules and post safety signage

As a pool owner, you also act as lifeguard. So it's important to post signs that communicate your pool's rules to visiting friends and family members. Pierrottie suggests posting signage that displays depth levels and in which parts of the pool you allow diving. Additionally, signs that say "No Horseplay" and "No Running" can help prevent injuries outside of the pool.

"Since it's a private pool, homeowners can put up any or no signs," Pierrottie says. "Signage can help inform your kids' friends or help to avoid legal issues should someone get hurt."

You are responsible for every swimmer who gets in your pool, so Merritt suggests discussing rules before parties or when your child's friends come to visit.

"Make sure to perform a swimming test with every child," she says. "That way, you're able to keep an eye on the weak swimmers."

7. Install safety ropes and buoys

To create a safe pool experience for all those who visit your pool, Merritt suggests installing safety rope that's noticeable from shallow depths all the way to the deep end of your pool.

"Always have the safety equipment out," she says. "Avoid drowning hazards by providing life hooks and buoys to swimmers, especially when children are in the water."

article from poollifemag.com

How to keep the kids safe from nasties in the pool this summer

from The Therapy Book

The school summer holidays are nearly here, and many of us will be taking the children for days out at the local swimming pool. However, how can we protect them from some of the nasties that seem to turn up more and more these days in public swimming pools?

Recently, a news article published in the New York Daily News stated that a public swimming pool in Brooklyn had to be shut down when it became contaminated with fecal material. Park officials believed the incident was caused by a dirty diaper.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention publishes a journal called Emerging Infectious Diseases. In the June 2008 issue, the CDC reported a study examining the safety of public swimming pool water in over 160 recreational water facilities. The purpose of the study was to determine how common two parasites occur in public swimming pools.

It turned out that one in 12 public swimming pools are contaminated with parasites.

Researchers in the CDC study took random samples from 160 public swimming pools around Atlanta, Georgia. Two microbial parasites, Cryptosporidium and Giardia, were present in one out of twelve swimming pools. These parasites are found in human feces. They are spread when someone swallows swimming pool water. They are also spread if a person does not wash his or her hands after handling a dirty diaper or eats contaminated food.

The most common symptom of these two parasites is diarrhea. Children and pregnant women can become violently ill from an infestation of Cryptosporidium or Giardia. People with compromised immune systems, such as people with AIDS and cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, are at risk of dying if infested with Cryptosporidium, according to the CDC.

"Baby pools" and smaller, less- frequently attended pools were found to contain the highest presence of these microbial parasites.

Practice safe swimming when visiting public water facilities

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offer the following tips to reduce the risk of becoming ill from swimming in a public swimming pool:

- Do not go swimming if you have diarrhea

- Do not allow your children to go swimming if they have diarrhea

- Make sure your children make a trip to the bathroom before swimming in a public pool

- Do not swallow or drink swimming pool water

- Teach children not to swallow or drink swimming pool water

- Change baby diapers in designated changing areas in restrooms, not at poolside

- Insist on public recreational water facilities that are properly maintained

To learn more about natural health and alternative health techniques, join THE THERAPY BOOK, the most comprehensive one-stop-shop on the web with information on more than 200 holistic therapies and the conditions they treat. Free 10-day trial. Just click on the book below.

Pool Safety Tips

from the National Drowning Prevention Alliance

Never leave a child unattended near water in a pool, tub, bucket or ocean. There is no substitute for adult supervision.

Designate a "Water Watcher" to maintain constant watch over children in the pool during gatherings.

The home should be isolated from the pool with a fence at least 60" tall, with a self-closing, self-latching gate. The gate should open away from the pool, and should never be propped open.

Doors and windows should be alarmed to alert adults when opened. Doors should be self-closing and self-latching.

Power-operated pool safety covers are the most convenient and efficient. Solar/floating pool covers are not safety devices.

Keep a phone at poolside so that you never have to leave the pool to answer the phone, and can call for help if needed.

Learn CPR and rescue breathing.

Keep a life-saving ring, shepherd's hook and CPR instructions mounted at poolside.

Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision.

Never leave water in buckets or wading pools.

If a child is missing, always check the pool first. Seconds count.

Remove toys from in and around the pool when not in use.

Don't use floating chlorine dispensers that look like toys.

Instruct babysitters about potential pool hazards, and emphasize the need for constant supervision.

Responsibilities of pool ownership include ensuring children in the home learn to swim, and that adults know CPR.

Do not consider children "drownproof" because they've had swimming lessons.

The Adventures of Splish and Splash

from poolsafely

This clever series of games from the CPSC's Pool Safely campaign helps teach kids about swimming pool safety in a fun way.  Watch all three of these interactive video games with your kids, and let them take part in Water Safety Month!

Click here to play the games