Summer 2012: Water Safety Tips

With temperatures expected to be in the 90s for the next few days, spending time in a pool is a great option to keep cool. 

Yet, drowning is the number one cause of injury deaths to children ages 1 to 4. In 2011, seven drowning deaths were reported in Illinois, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

In May, the Consumer Product Safety Commission kicked off its Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign. The campaign is targeted to at-risk groups, but also provides information that is valuable to the general public.

If you plan to spend any time at the pool, whether public or neighborhood, here are some safety tips.

Tips for staying safe at community pools 

• Always watch children when they are in or near a pool or spa
• Teach children basic water safety tips
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
• Have a portable telephone close by at all times when you or your family are 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

Practice 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

Have a pool safety toolkit on hand

• A first aid kit
• A pair of scissors to cut hair, clothing or a pool cover if needed
• A charged cell phone
• A flotation device

Source: PoolSafely.gov

The city of Naperville’s Fire Department offers CPR classes regularly. Classes vary from a heart saver class, which includes CPR to an AED/CPR class. The city also offers a class for medical professionals. 

The also offers some tips for safely enjoying pools

• Adults monitoring young children should keep them within arms reach with “touch supervision”
• Adults monitoring older children should be free from distractions, whether talking on the phone, socializing or drinking alcoholic beverages
• The supervising adult must know how to swim
• Adults should not drop off children at a pool or beach without knowing who will be supervising them. They must have adult supervision
• Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not in use
• Empty blow-up pools after each use
• No tricycles or other riding toys should be allowed at poolside
• No electrical appliances should be allowed near the pool
• No diving should be permitted in a pool that is not deep enough
• No running should be allowed on the pool deck

Source: City of Naperville

For more information on water safety visit PoolSafely.gov and the city of Naperville.