Fun and Safety in the Pool this Summer
As summer approaches and the temperature starts to rise, attentions turn towards relaxing and cooling off in your backyard pool. Australia boasts the ideal environment for swimming, with the hot climate and suburban lifestyle providing numerous opportunities to get wet. Before anyone dives in the deep end, however, there’s a great deal of important swimming pool safety advice and tips that need to be taken into consideration. From diving rules and fence requirements through to general water safety and supervision, pool safety should always be embraced as a vital part of summertime fun.
Check the environment
It’s important to check the surrounding environment before jumping into a pool. Whether you’re visiting the local public pool or swimming in the backyard, it’s critical that you inspect the entire poolside area for potential safety hazards. For example, fallen branches may need to be removed from the pool prior to swimming, along with hoses, pool cleaning equipment, and pool toys.
External objects can create diving and tripping hazards, while long hoses and pool toys are easy to get tangled up in. It’s also important to inspect the edges around the pool and remove anything that may create a hazard, including poolside furniture and toys. A quick inspection doesn’t have to take long, and can be the difference between fun and danger. It’s also important to check water quality, along with correct chlorination and salt levels.
Supervision and pool rules
Water safety relies on common sense and constant diligence. Before enjoying a day at the pool, it’s important that precautionary measures have been put in place and that everyone is aware of their obligations. Parents have the responsibility to set rules and guidelines based on the surrounding environment and the specific needs of their children. While all children using the pool should already know how to swim, constant supervision is still needed to ensure safety at all times. When setting pool rules, it’s important to communicate with everyone in the pool and create signs that remind people of their responsibilities.
Basic pool safety rules include no diving into the shallow end, no running around the pool area, no fighting or rough play, and not holding people under the water. While older kids may be allowed to dive into the deep end, each parent needs to consider their options based on the pool in question and on their child’s swimming ability level. Young children need additional attention, including constant adult supervision and flotation devices. Arm floaters and life vests are two popular.
Fencing
Fencing has a huge impact on pool safety, especially for parents or anyone who is looking after young children. Pool fences are a legal requirement in Australia, so they need to be installed in order to avoid penalties. While there are different pool fencing regulations depending on the state of residence, there are some common rules applied nationwide.
CPR and signage
If something does go wrong, it’s important to be prepared and have people around who are trained in CPR. Learning CPR is a good idea for anyone, and a really good idea if you own a pool or have young children. CPR signage needs to be displayed in private and public pools in Australia in compliance with council regulations and the Swimming Pools Act of 1992. Preparing a first aid kit is also important, with standard kits widely available from chemists and other retailers.
Supervision and pool rules
Water safety relies on common sense and constant diligence. Before enjoying a day at the pool, it’s important that precautionary measures have been put in place and that everyone is aware of their obligations. Parents have the responsibility to set rules and guidelines basedon the surrounding environment and the specific needs of their children. While all children using the pool should already know how to swim, constant supervision is still needed to ensure safety at all times. When setting pool rules, it’s important to communicate with everyone in the pool and create signs that remind people of their responsibilities.
Basic pool safety rules include no diving into the shallow end, no running around the pool area, no fighting or rough play, and not holding people under the water. While older kids may be allowed to dive into the deep end, each parent needs to consider their options based on the pool in question and on their child’s swimming ability level. Young children need additional attention, including constant adult supervision and flotation devices. Arm floaters and life vests are two popular flotation options for young kids or anyone else who doesn’t feel confident in the water, but should not be used as alternatives to supervision.
Responsible fun
There’s nothing more fun than getting wet on a hot summer’s day, and taking the right precautions ensures that everyone can have a great time at the pool. Creating a fun but safe environment during summer is the responsibility of all pool owners and parents, especially those with young children. Pool safety doesn’t have to be a chore; just make these simple precautions part of your regular swimming routine. Here at A1 Swimming Academy, we teach swimming and water safety in the comfort of your home pool. Please contact us and make your booking today.
