Water Safety Tips if You Have Children In or Around your Pool and Spa

Simple Steps Keep Everyone Safe
 

MAAX Spa

National Water Safety Month kicks off in May and we want to remind our pool and spa owners to be aware of how to make their water spaces safe for people of all ages.
 
Adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience, because you never know which one might save a child’s life—until it does. Basically, keeping safe breaks down into two main areas: keeping the kids safe and making the area safe.
 
Keeping the Kids Safe:
Staying Close, Being Alert and Watching Children in and Around the Pool

• 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

 
Learning and Practicing Water Safety Skills

• 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

 
Keeping the Pool and Spa area Safe:
Having the Appropriate Equipment for Your Pool or Spa

• 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
• You can also add a gate alarm and/or door alarm to alert you when children are potentially going near the water. New York State requires you to have an alarm for your pool
• Ensure any pool and spa you use has compliant drain covers, and ask us if you do not know
• Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order
• Consider using a surface wave or underwater alarm

 
At Pettis Pools & Patio we take safety very seriously. If you have any questions about how to implement any of these tips, stop in or give us a call. We are happy to help you out!