With summertime officially here, you and your children might be spending a lot of time around the swimming pool. Swimming pools are a great way to cool off, but they can also be a fertile ground for injuries. Every year, the Consumer Product and Safety Commission (CPSC) reports thousands of swimming pool injuries, including, diving board injuries, lacerations and slip and falls. In addition, approximately 300 people drown every year in home swimming pools.
In an effort to stay safe and injury-free around the swimming pool this summer, the CPSC issued the following tips:
- Use non-slip materials on the deck surrounding your pool and on the diving boards and ladders.
- Have the electrical systems installed by licensed electricians and in accordance with recognized standards for safety.
- Fence in your pool area to prevent access to unsupervised children.
- Place a safety float line where the bottom slope begins to deepen (approximately the five-foot level) ,
- Keep all electrical appliances, such as radios, away from the pool because of the potential shock hazard.
- Learn to swim well.
The major accidents associated with swimming pools include falling on slippery walkways, decks, diving boards or ladders; striking the bottom or sides of the pool because of insufficient depth for diving or sliding; and, drowning when swimming alone or without adult supervision.
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