Have fun in the sun, be safe at the pool

By Adrian Lee

Public Relations Officer, San Diego Police Dept. Northwestern Division

NOTE: These pool safety tips are provided via Community Relations Officer Adrian Lee of the San Diego Police Department’s Northwestern Division.

1) Cover your pool: If you have a pool on your property, be sure that you completely cover it when it’s not being used. This prevents debris from affecting the filtration systems in the pool.

2) Install a fence and gate: The fencing around a pool is recommended to be at least 4 feet high. It’s also essential that your fence has a latching, locking gate. This gate is extremely important for preventing young children from having unsupervised access to the pool.

3) Know CPR: The American Red Cross offers regular CPR certification courses in most major cities. Knowing CPR could save your child’s life in the event of a near-drowning accident, and can be useful in other situations as well. As a responsible parent, it’s highly recommended that you look for opportunities to attend a CPR training course.

4) Have safety flotation devices: No matter if you’re going to a public pool or your own backyard pool, it’s still important that you have a safety flotation device. This is especially important if you have very young children, who aren’t able to easily swim on their own. There are currently several different types of safety flotation devices, which are designed for children of all ages. An example would be a children’s float suit, which has foam inserts designed to help children learn how to swim.

5) No running: This is a rule that most parents are aware of, but may have difficulty enforcing. Children love to play around the pool, and young children love to run. However, the concrete or tile around the pool is often slippery from the water, which increases the risk of a fall-related injury. Falls near the pool are also particularly dangerous since it’s possible that your child could be knocked unconscious, then fall into the water. Explain to your children why running around the pool is dangerous, and be strict about enforcing this rule.

Have a safe and fun summer!