Swimming pools are a great
place for children to have fun and get exercise. But they can also pose some
dangers.
The American Red Cross has
important safety tips for supervising children anytime they are at a pool or
pond:
Never let a child swim alone.
Constant supervision is a must.
Never leave a child unattended
in the pool area — even for the length of time it takes to answer a telephone.
Pool owners should make sure
there is fencing around the pool, with a locked gate.
Deep and shallow sections of
the pool should be clearly marked and separated with a line if weak swimmers or
non-swimmers use the pool.
Anyone supervising children
near water should know simple reaching techniques for rescues.
These can include extending a
towel, shirt, branch, or pole to the swimmer, or throwing a life preserver or
other buoyant object.
It is also important to know
how to administer CPR.
With water safety always in
mind, everyone can have fun at the pool this summer.
