Please note: Barton Dunant assumes no liability or responsibility for any use of this program. These are simply recommendations we are making, which are in line with established safety and security protocols and procedures issued by governmental and non-governmental organizations. Smarter Water Watcher is a trademark of York Drive, LLC and used with permission.
Following These Pool Safety Tips Can Help Save a Life
Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death in children ages 1 through 4, and new data released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) shows that more than 375 children drown in pools and spas each year. Children younger than 5 years old account for 75 percent of these drownings, 56 percent of which are attributed to a gap in adult supervision. Most child drownings (71 percent) happen at home.
In response to these numbers, CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign is sharing simple water safety steps that families can take to prevent drownings, especially while many families are spending more time around backyard and portable pools this season.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Pool Safely campaign urges parents and caregivers to follow the Pool Safely simple safety steps to prevent more drownings:
Never leave a child unattended in or near water, and always designate an adult Water Watcher. This person should not be reading, texting, using a smartphone or be otherwise distracted. In addition to pools and spas, this warning includes bathtubs, buckets, decorative ponds, and fountains.
If you own a pool or spa, be sure to install layers of protection, including a four-sided fence with a self-closing, self-latching gate.
Learn how to perform CPR on children and adults. Many communities offer online CPR training.
Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim.
Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments.
Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal safety standards and if you do not know, ask your pool service provider about safer drain covers.
Families can visit poolsafely.gov for additional water safety tips to prepare for a summer that is safer and more fun.
Water Safety Tips (Pools, Lakes, Rivers, Streams, etc.)
In places with bodies of water – and where there are no lifeguards – the responsibility for life safety falls on the responsible adults. Here are some tips:
- Make sure all of the safety features which came with the above-ground pool or were part of the installation of an in-ground pool are in place. Don’t skip any steps, parts or signage which should be displayed. Make sure you are meeting local ordinances for fences, pool safety equipment, etc. Additionally, add warning signs in other languages, if appropriate.
- Become an expert on the safe storage and use of pool cleaning chemicals, especially where they need to be stored away from children and pets; and in secure locations with proper ventilation. Opening chlorine packages in confined spaces can cut off the oxygen in the air and quickly become a choking hazard.
- Make the commitment to always have a “Smarter Water Watcher” when there are kids near or in the water. And while having a certified life guard is better, every water site (pool, lake, river, etc.) needs someone whose only job is to watch the water for hazard and threats, including accidental drowning.
While not new technology, make sure your pool is equipped with a water movement alarm: one that meets or exceeds the ASTM F2208-08 standards.
The American Red Cross offers a free online water safety course designed for parents and caregivers.
As part of the Smarter Water Watcher program noted above, we are not saying don’t have a cell phone by the water – especially in case of emergencies – we are saying someone has to give up the usual distraction of their cell phone and other smart devices, to watch the water instead. Another tip is to provide the address of the home on a laminated card near the pool – which could be where the cell phone is left – so that in a panic, whomever is making the call to 911 has the address correctly (including cross-streets, back-alley access, etc.). A guest at your pool party who is the designated Smarter Water Watcher will probably not know all of that important information, when it is needed the most.