Keeping your kids safe at the pool, or anytime they’re near water, is a year-round concern. But since May is National Water Safety Month, it’s a great time for a refresher on the rules of pool safety for kids. Don’t swim alone. This rule applies to all swimmers, regardless of age. In private pools, or situations where no lifeguard is present, younger children or swimmers who are not completely confident in their skills should always have a strong swimmer closely supervising them. Even strong swimmers should never use the pool alone, in case of an unexpected medical emergency. Teach basic swimming techniques. Even at a young age, a child can learn basic swimming skills. The American Red Cross suggests swim lessons for children as young as six months. If your children are comfortable enough in the water to keep themselves afloat, it can make a huge difference in terms of how much time you have to get to them should they accidentally enter the water. Create barriers-to-entry. If you do own a pool, your pool area must comply with state and local regulations for barriers-to-entry, which likely include fencing with self-latching gates, as well as locks and alarms on […]
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