SafeTips
Swimming Pools and Kids

1. If you're at a pool with children who are either very young or who can't swim, don't leave them alone, even if they aren't in the water.
2. If you are taking care of an infant or toddler, don't let them out of arm's reach.
3. Learn a little about rescue swimming and take a CPR course. You never know when you might have to rescue someone.
4. Fence the pool. Most places have strict, detailed rules about fences and gates. A common rule is that the gates automatically close and latch, and that the latch is too high for small children to reach. Enclose the pool completely with a self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars. Other rules for fences may specify the allowable gap between the boards or bars, and may call for alarms on doors leading to the pool.
5. Make sure you have life preservers handy.
6. Inflatable "swimming aids" are little more than toys. Non-swimmers who use them may literally get in over their heads. If they are depending on an inflatable device that either deflates or gets away from them, they're in trouble.
7. Most kids aren't physically and mentally prepared to learn to swim until they are at least four years old.

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