Three Tips to Keep Your Child’s Pool Time a Safe Time
Summer is such a joyous time of the year. Temperatures warm up, bringing families, neighbors, and communities together for seemingly endless days of pure fun. There are so many summer traditions to be celebrated, like barbecues, summer camp, and frozen sweet treats. For many of us, celebrating summer is centered around our favorite backyard fixture: the swimming pool.
It’s the best way to cool off on a sunny afternoon with our loved ones. But it is no secret that swimming pools do come with some hazards. Read on for some simple tips on how to keep the fun going around your pool this summer without any accidents.
1. Keep Kids Out Of Danger With Pool Screens
Children are usually safe and supervised around the pool when multiple family members are using it, but there is always a possibility of a young child wandering out to your pool unsupervised. The most simple and effective way to prevent a child from being able to enter the water in an unsupervised situation is by installing a barrier around your pool. If your pool is in a porch area, install a pool screen so that it is easily removed when it’s time for an afternoon of summer fun. If your pool is in your yard and not screened in, install a fence so that the entire area is inaccessible to children. FamilyEducation.com recommends that these barriers be at least four feet tall. Make sure that these barriers are sealed or closed at all times that you are not using your pool. The best way to handle accidents this summer is to prevent any accidents from happening in the first place.
2. Floatation Devices Are Your Friends
Another great way to ensure pool safety for the whole family this summer is with floatation devices. If young ones are around the pool, but you are not entirely confident in their swimming abilities, this is a great way to protect them and have a peace of mind. Lots of us remember our arm floaties from when we were young and got comfortable with the water, and those are still a viable option today. For even more security, life vests are available in sizes for nearly all ages. Even pups who don’t swim very well or maybe not that comfortable in the water can stay safe – there are lots of options for doggy life jackets on the market as well. Floatation devices are an easy way to keep every member of your family safe around the pool, even the furry ones.
3. Sunscreen Is Essential
The sun may not pose any immediate danger for your youngsters, but sunburns are no fun, and the long-term risk of skin cancer is present. Thankfully, both the short term and long term effects of sun damage are easily prevented with sunscreen. Make sure to use a sunscreen that has an SPF of 30 or more and doesn’t forget to reapply every two hours. It is the belief of some that the risk of sunburn is decreased when it’s cloudy outside or if you’re spending time in the sun underneath a porch. That is not true, and you should still use a powerful sunscreen in these situations. For family members with extra fair or sensitive skin, look into purchasing zinc oxide and apply it to areas of their face and body that are most prone to sunburn. Gathering for a summer barbecue or pool party under the sun is the most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon, so keep the fun going by preventing sunburns.
Pool safety can be a simple endeavor, as long as you take the time to prevent accidents instead of handling them after they occur. Pool barriers, floatation devices, and proper sunscreen application are all easy ways to keep the family safe while keeping all the enjoyment in your sunny afternoon get-‐together. Summer can entirely be all fun and games, as long as you take a few simple precautions to make sure your family stays as safe as possible. So you, Super Parent, can kick back and enjoy the relaxing summer you’ve been waiting for all year long.