Safety
Supervision
- Assign an adult to supervise children in and around any body of water. This is needed whether there is one parent or guardian present or numerous adults present such as during a family event or party.
- Maintain constant supervision with children in and around any body of water.
- Remove children from the body of water for any distraction such as a telephone call, use of the restroom, etc.
- Issue the adult supervisor an item such as a whistle, bracelet, etc. to reinforce which adult is in charge of the safety of the children.
- Floaties or other inflatable flotation devices are not life jackets and should never be substituted for adult supervision.
- Maintain a clear view, no obstacles, no trees, or bushes to block line of supervision to the body of water.
- Ensure any adult responsible for the children know the emergency services telephone number and also your location address in the event emergency personnel are needed to be called to the scene.
Barriers
- Have a fence enclosure that isolates the body of water from the home, play areas, front and side yards and the neighbor’s yard.
- Make sure all gates in the isolation fence are self-closing and self-latching.
- Multiple layers of barriers isolating the body of water from children should be installed. in addition to an isolation fence, one or more of the following safety features can provide the additional protection necessary.
- Approved safety cover
- Approved safety alarm
- Exit alarms on doors providing access to the body of water.
- Keep all doors and windows leading to the body of water area locked.
- Doors providing access to the body of water should be equipped to be self-closing and self-latching with a release mechanism high enough to be out of the reach of a child.
- Perimeter yard fence provided with a self-closing and self-latching gate.
- All chairs, tables, large toys or other objects that would allow a child to climb up to reach the gate latch or enable the child to climb over the isolation fence should be removed or kept inside the fenced area.
Classes
- Learn how to perform Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).
- See CPR Awareness Video on the American Heart Association website www.heart.org, sign up for a CPR class or purchase an at home training kit.
- Enroll your child in swimming lessons.
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