Top 10 Ways To Promote Swimming Pool Safety

1. Preach pool safety. It starts with your family - the ones who will be in the pool the most. Make sure you stress the importance of not running and staying away from the pool when there is no adult supervision. The more times kids hear the rules, they might actually soak up some of the information.
2. Include a first-aid kit. This should be in a prominent place near the pool where everyone can easily reach it. If there is an accident, it's important to be able to provide first aid as quickly as possible.
3. No adults, no swimming. The most important pool rule should be no swimming allowed without adult supervision. That's the key element of pool safety, though statistics on pool drowning show that nearly 70 percent of pool deaths happened when an adult lost track of a child for just a moment or two.
4. Don't wait for CPR training. All the adults in the home, at the very least, should undergo CPR training. The training is available through the local YMCA or YWCA or Red Cross organization. If there is a close call, you don't want to be waiting for emergency responders to arrive to attend to someone.
5. Teach kids to swim early. If you have young kids who will be using the pool, make sure you get them used to the pool and teach them at least how to get to a safety line or to a ladder at all times. There is some argument whether these safety lessons should be given to kids 3 and under.
6. Post safety signs. Sure, it's only a sign. But something that lays out the pool rules - such as no running or jumping into the pool if anyone is nearby - can only help. Put the sign in easy view of anyone who comes to swim in the pool.
7. Use approved floatables. Make sure that any safety vests are safety approved. Floatables that require someone to blow them up can be dangerous because at any time a leak could develop and you might not realize it if it occurs while the child is in the pool.
8. Use slip-resistant materials. There are a couple of ways to handle this material - from the materials you use for your pool deck to safety strips or with products that can be applied to the deck that will offer better footing, even in ponding conditions.
9. Use safety fence at all times. Put up a removable safety fence that encloses your pool whenever it is not in use. There are safety mesh fences with automatic locking gates that provide good protection through bars attached into the pool decking.
10. Set a good example. Your kids watch you more than you realize, and sometimes when you don't think they are. Don't engage in too much horseplay when it's just "adult" time in the pool. Respect the rules at all times and chances are your kids will, also.