It’s the season of outdoor pools, seaside fun and barbecues! We all love summer for the sun, nice weather and long relaxing holidays. To make sure your holiday is truly relaxing even with a group of happy children running around, splashing and jumping, read our little list of 5 ways to keep kids safe around the swimming pool.
1. Lifesaving equipment
In most cases people have normal and relaxing holidays, but it’s always a good idea to have a few things with you in case things do go wrong. When travelling with children it’s always a good idea to pack at least a small first aid kit. In addition to that when you’re having fun by the water, it’s good to have a few things like – flotation devices, something long like a pool noodle and a life jacket. Also, always keep your phone near so that in case of emergency, you can always call for help.
2. Designated Adult
Family fun around the water with relatives or friends is a fantastic way to spend a summer day. However, on these occasions we often get distracted with great conversations, a good book or preparing a delicious barbeque. Whilst having a fun conversation it can be very easy for children to end up unsupervised.
The best solution for that is generally to agree with the all adults to have a designated adult supervisor, so to speak. Think of them as a temporary lifeguard. You can alternate throughout the day and make sure that there is always someone keeping an eye on the children.
3. Pool Toys
We know that, usually, when we want a minute for ourselves we leave the kids to play with their toys and entertain themselves. That’s perfectly ok on land and in your home but things are slightly different when you’re around water. Pool toys are, generally speaking, perfectly safe but there should always be an adult around when a child is in the pool.
Children, and especially toddlers, are not very good at assessing potential hazards because their situational awareness is still developing. Often, when they see a toy floating near the shore or the pool’s side, they may try to grab it and accidently fall into the water. This can be especially dangerous with pools because the toys may have floated to the deeper side of the pool. That’s why it’s best to put pool toys away when the pool is not being used and there is no adult watching the kids.
4. Learn to Swim
Many adults don’t know how to swim. We know that, and we are here to tell you that it’s never too late to learn! At Dolphin Academy we teach anyone from 6 weeks old to 80+ years old. Safety – your own and that of your loved ones, is one of the best reasons to learn to swim later in your life (read our blog here to find out other good reasons why).
When you know how to swim you can react quicker and better if there is an emergency. It would also be more pleasant and relaxing for you to be in the water with your children as you will be more confident of your own abilities. That way you can have more fun together, keep them safe and pass onto them the skill of swimming.
5. Teach Kids How to Swim
This is probably the best and most permanent solution. Swimming is an amazing life skill which can save lives – both your own and someone else’s. It’s also something you learn once and never really forget how to do. Teaching your kids to swim or signing them up for lessons is a great way to make sure they are safe even when you’re not around to watch them.
The best thing about swimming is that it’s not only for safety! It can be a sport which your child loves, a fun way to exercise or even a career path. It’s a lovely extracurricular activity which helps establish many healthy habits – keeping active and enjoying it, the importance of stretching before exercise or how to be safe in water are only some of them. Children also learn to take instructions, work together in a team and probably most importantly they learn that patience and hard work pay off!
If you’d like to read some more water safety tips we have a blog here: 5 Water Safety Tips from Dolphin Academy. Have a happy, sunny and safe holiday!