Thinking of hitting the pool with your kids?

With Australian weather always tempting you to go for a dip, there is no better place to spend a hot day with family and friends than outdoors. There are practically endless opportunities for camping, frozen treats, barbecues, and water activities.

What’s better than submerging your body in a pool on a hot day? If it is not practical to go to the beach, backyard swimming pools have grown in popularity with millions of Aussie households also having pools.

While many childhood memories are about spending time in the water, whether in the swimming pool or at the beach, the truth is that swimming pools are also hazards.

Even if your child has had swimming lessons, staying aware of those dangers, especially the dangers that involve children, can prevent accidents and tragedies.

In fact, according to recent studies, there was a 10% increase in drownings in Australia last year compared to the previous year. While 1 in 5 individuals die from drowning are children under the age of 14.

Therefore, in this article, we’ll go over some easy safety tips for swimming in a pool.

After all, it is possible to have plenty of fun in the water without having accidents.

Here are 5 practical tips to keep your pool safe in 2020.

1) Set Your Pool Safety Rules

Safety, as always, should be everyone’s first concern in the swimming pool.

Although precautionary measures need to be in place, it is also true that safety is the individual’s responsibility; it is the parents or the guardians when it comes to young children, toddlers, and babies.

That said, it is very important to educate individuals about acceptable and proper conduct whenever they are near a pool. Safety regulations need to be firmly established in everyone’s minds.

The following are important basic safety instructions:

• No holding another individual’s head underwater and no dunking
• Young children should only swim when an adult is with them
• No rough playing, shoving or pushing near or inside the pool
• No diving, particularly in the shallow end of the pool
• No running on the pool’s deck

2) Children Need To Know How to Swim

One very worthwhile investment for your kids is swimming lessons. Although basic lessons won’t make anyone drown-proof, at least she or he will have the basic knowledge about how to stay safe while they are in the water.

Adults also should take swimming lessons. When it comes to toddlers and babies, it is never too early or too late for them to learn how to swim.

Looking to introduce your child to swimming lessons? Find out more with the Australian Swim Schools.

3) Inspect the Pool Area Frequently for Hazards

Hazards can come in a range of forms.

For example, pool chemicals should be properly stored. When children are exposed to those potentially harmful substances may suffer injuries. Be sure to properly store the pool chemicals and out of the way from children and unauthorised people.

It is also equally important to check around the pool for slip hazards. Expert landscaper

Wayne Leglies works in yards with pools often and explains that objects around the pool are often overlooked.

He states that “items such as cleaning equipment, tubes, toys and other objects can cause preventable accidents. Having a clean pool and backyard eliminates this risk. Not only is having a clear pool area safe, it also makes your backyard look fantastic, so it’s a win-win!”.  

4) Flotation Devices For Peace of Mind and Safety

One great way of ensuring pool safety is to make sure you use floatation devices. This is a precautionary measure that is well-suited for young kids or anybody whose swimming skills are not fully developed.

Floatation devices for parents and guardians work to protect their kids from drowning and injuries to give them peace of mind.

Life vests and arm floaters are popular options as well which are ideal for individuals of all ages. That includes even toddlers who are unable to swim who can comfortably stay afloat in the pool.

5) Setting a Pool Fence Up

It is possible for a child to wander into a pool area while they are unsupervised. The best solution for this is to install a barrier around the pool to keep unsupervised children out.

In order to prevent children from getting inside the pool area, there needs to be a sturdy barrier. That doesn’t mean pool screens. Although they are designed to keep kids out, it is easy to remove that kind of barrier.

Even with just a little bit of effort, children can knock down the obstacles and enter into the pool.

In order to ensure pool safety, then the area will need to be enclosed with pool fencing that adheres to Australian regulations and standards. Sealing the pool area off when there are not any adults available to supervise kids while swimming can be an effective method for preventing drowning-related accidents.

Having a pool fence that ensures the safety of your children is obviously the number 1 priority, however, having a pool fence which aesthetically suits your pool is often overlooked.

Home renovation expert Glen Gilbertson has seen an increase in backyard swimming pool and fencing constructions, he explains that 

“the design of the fence is almost always the last thing that is thought of when designing and constructing a pool. While it isn’t as exciting as the pool, a lot of homeowners often regret not thinking about the design of the fence, leaving it too late. Having a plan of what you want both the fence and the pool to look like is incredibly important”.

If you want your child to have some fun in the water or just want to learn more about swimming lessons, check out the Australian Swim Schools Association.

Author Bio
Thomas Wright is a freelance writer. He is a university student based in Sydney. A Computer Science student, Thomas is also fond of going to the cinema. When not on his desk, he is often at the cinemas watching his favourite shows.