An Easy Way to Keep Kids Safe in the Pool This Summer
As kids spend more time swimming this summer, it’s important to take steps to ensure their safety in the water. While swimsuits come in bright fun colors and patterns, some options actually make children less visible to swim instructors and lifeguards, putting them at higher risk of drowning or other accidents. Here are some tips for keeping kids safe in the pool.
Avoid dark colors
Dark colored suits, like navy blue, black or forest green, make children harder to spot in pools. As an alternative, choose suits in neon colors, bright floral patterns or other highly visible options. Lime green, pink, turquoise and orange are all excellent options that will make kids more noticeable without a dark base color.
Consider water safety vests or floaties
For young kids or non-swimmers, a water safety vest or floaties can provide an extra layer of protection while swimming. These provide buoyancy to help keep heads above water and are brightly colored to aid visibility. Look for floaties that are specifically rated for swimming pools.
Never swim alone
The most important safety tip is to never allow kids to swim unsupervised. Always swim with younger kids or have a certified lifeguard on duty. Even if children can swim proficiently, accidents and emergencies can happen quickly. Constant adult supervision is the best way to help prevent tragedy.
Learn water safety
Ensure all kids know how to swim safely by enrolling them in swimming lessons with a certified swim instructor. Teach water safety basics like never swimming alone, asking permission to enter deeper water and how to float, tread water and signal for help in an emergency.
Set clear rules and boundaries
Set guidelines for where kids can swim based on their ability and always enforce those rules. For example, only allow stronger swimmers in deep ends or prohibit younger kids from diving or cannonballing. Clear rules will help keep kids safer while having fun in the pool.
Keep Kids Safe and Ensure a Fun Summer at the Pool
By following some simple water safety tips, you can make the pool a fun and worry-free place all summer long. Ensuring proper safety gear, constant adult supervision, teaching swimming skills and setting clear rules will give both you and the kids peace of mind while swimming.