Jump in and swim safetly
Thursday, August 20, 2009 at 02:47AM 
I know it is the end of summer but many of us swim well into September and it is never a bad idea to remind ourselves how and why we need to keep our children in arms reach at the pool side. Last week I had a crazy experience. We were at our community pool at the condo where we live. A mom with four children walked in. I had met this mom several times and we have engaged in small talk as our children play and swim. Today was different. They entered the gate to the pool. I was in the pool with my two children. The mom with four children was settling down her 6 month old who was a little fussy. Her 3 year old simply walked over to the pool steps then walked in and dove into the shallow end right in front of me. She moved her arms and legs, swam about 6 inches then began to sink down into the water. She began to drown. I immediately picked her up, put her head down and patted her back so that water would leave her nose. I sat her on the side of the pool; did a check to make sure my kids were fine, them I looked up and motioned for her mom to come over. At that time her 7 year old said, "Mom Mary almost drowned." Of course her Mom shrieked with a "Oh My God are you OK?" then they went on their way. I later simply mentioned that we used to have a house with a pool and even though my 2 year old was swimming like a guppy; I placed a safety vest on her before we entered the gated pool area. I have not been able to get this out of my mind and thought we could all use a refresher course on pool safety!
below tips taken directly from the American Academy of Pediatrics
A swimming pool can be very dangerous for children. If possible, do not put a swimming pool in your yard until your children are older than 5 years. Help protect your children from drowning by doing the following:
- Never leave your children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment. An adult who knows CPR should actively supervise children at all times.
- Practice touch supervision with children younger than 5 years. This means that the adult is within an arm's length of the child at all times.
- You must put up a fence to separate your house from the pool. Most young children who drown in pools wander out of the house and fall into the pool. Install a fence at least 4 feet high around all 4 sides of the pool. This fence will completely separate the pool from the house and play area of the yard. Use gates that self-close and self-latch, with latches higher than your children's reach.
- Keep rescue equipment (such as a shepherd's hook or life preserver) and a telephone by the pool.
- Do not use air-filled "swimming aids" as a substitute for approved life vests.
- Remove all toys from the pool after use so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
- After the children are done swimming, secure the pool so they can't get back into it.
- A power safety cover that meets the standards of the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) may add to the protection of your children but should not be used in place of the fence between your house and the pool. Even fencing around your pool and using a power safety cover will not prevent all drownings.
Remember, teaching your child how to swim DOES NOT mean your child is safe in water.
AND Don't forget.....
Blessed Nest is teaming with The Riley Project for the Month of August:
Purchase a "Riley's Raindrop" in support of The Riley Project here
$39.00 regular price $42.00
Love, to the moon and back
Reader Comments (3)
We have a rule; if you can't see the bottom, you don't go in! Around here, pretty much everyone has a pond on their property. To some kids, this is just a "natural swimming pool". But Grace knows that if you can't see to the bottom of a body of water, you stay out.
Crazy! I remember you telling me about that!!
Our kiddos are starting lessons next week with one of our friends!!
Wise warning...thanks for the reminder. As a former lifeguard I can tell you it is simply shocking how fast a small child can get into trouble around water. Kim