Where better to spend the lazy, hazy days of summer than poolside? Whether you’re a pool owner or just a pool visitor, cooling off in a gorgeous pool of aquamarine water can be fun and refreshing, but it can also possibly be dangerous, as well. Here are the best ways to beat the heat safely.
Phone it in. Keep your phone by your side in case of a water emergency. Don’t want it to get wet? There are all kinds of products that can keep your phone nice and dry, so you can always stay phone call away from emergency help.
Learn CPR. You never know when you’ll need to jump into action before emergency responders can arrive to a dire situation. Getting certified in CPR is a simple, short process and could help save a life.
Know before you go. Scope out the pool area beforehand and locate safety and rescue equipment. If it’s your pool, always make sure the safety equipment is within reach. Tossing in a floatation device can earn you the precious seconds you need in a lifesaving situation.
Be on patrol. If you’re with a group of adults and children, assign a “lookout” person in 30-minute shifts. It’s easy to let conversation get the better of us, and we might forget to keep an eye out for someone in distress. Rotating lifeguard duties helps keep everyone on task and in the moment.
Check your drains. Pool drains can be deadly for children. Remember being a kid and seeing who could touch the bottom of the deep end? And we bet that most of the time, you’d go right for the drain. Sadly, there have been many cases where children have been caught in drain covers that do not comply with the P&SS Act. So make sure your pool and spa have safety drain covers, and warn your children to stay away from them no matter what cover you have in place.
Teach others. Post or point out pool safety tips to the whole family when you arrive at the pool. Read them out loud to younger children and have the older children read them out loud themselves. Keeping pool safety tips freshly in your mind can not only alleviate panic, but it can shave minutes off of a rescue situation because you’ll know just what to do.
Fence it in. If you own your pool and have children, make sure you have a fence guard surrounding the pool area with a self-closing gate that can lock. Keep the gate closed and locked at all times when the pool is not being used.
Follow these tips and safely enjoy your summer poolside!
Post Author: kimtierney.
