Pool & Swimming Safety
With summer in full swing and students out for the summer it is 
important to remind everyone of the dangers of swimming and to provide some helpful safety tips.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, every day, about ten people die from accidental drowning. Of these, two are children aged 14 or younger. Drowning ranks fifth among the leading causes of unintentional injury death in the United States.
Florida’s Heath Department reports that the state loses more children under age five to unintentional drowning than any other state.
It is important to remember that every drowning is preventable. Here are some helpful safety tips to keep you and your loved ones safe this summer and year-round:
- Childproof your pool by enclosing it in a fence with a self-closing and self-latching gate
- Install safety nets, permanent pool covers, audible alarms to prevent kids or pets from falling into the pool
- Remove all toys from the pool and pool deck to prevent kids from playing near or falling into the pool
- Supervise your kids around the pool, even if they know how to swim
- Swim in pools with certified lifeguards who are trained in injury prevention and emergency response
- Have the right emergency equipment on hand (flotation devices, first aid kit, phone) and learn CPR
- Have children who don’t know how to swim wear a Coast Guard approved life vest – not “floaties”
- Take your child to swimming lessons
- Install anti-entrapment drain covers so kids do not get trapped by drain suction
Here are some additional helpful resources.
- American Red Cross – Take Steps to Stay Safe Around Water
- Center for Disease Control – Healthy Swimming / Recreation Water Usage
- Consumer Product Safety Commission – Pools & Spa Safety Act
- National Water Safety Month
- Pool Safely – Pool Safety Tool Kit
- SafeKids.org – Swimming Safety Tips
- Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act
