Safety Tips

• Any door leading to the pool area should be kept locked.
• Train your toddler for pool survival as soon as he is able to crawl or walk to your pool.
• Your child will retain survival swimming skills by practicing during water active months.
• Never go into the house to answer the telephone and leave a child unattended in the pool area. Numerous drowning incidents are associated with parents answering the telephone while children are in the pool.
• Install a telephone near the pool area or keep a remote unit nearby in case of an emergency.
• Do not leave objects in the pool that could attract your child. Children who would normally avoid the pool may be attracted by a favorite toy in the pool.

Watch Your Kids Around Water

A study conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to investigate how child drowning accidents occur uncovered the following harrowing statistics.

Who was supervising at the time of drowning?

• 69 percent of accidents occurred while one or both parents were responsible for supervision.
• 10 percent were adults other than the parents.
• 14 percent were sitters.
• 7 percent were siblings.

What was the location of the pool drowning?

• 65 percent were in a pool owned by the child’s family.
• 22 percent were at a relative’s house.
• 11 perent were at a neighbor’s house.

Where were they last seen?

• 46 percent were last seen in the house prior to being found in the pool. Of these, 15 percent were thought to be sleeping.
• 23 percent were last seen in the yard, porch, or patio — not in the pool area. That’s a total of 69 percent that were thought not to be in the pool area.
• 31 percent were last seen in the pool or pool area.

What was the supervisor doing at the time of drowning?

• 39 percent were doing chores.
• 18 percent were socializing.
• 9 percent were busy on the telephone.