Swimming Safety Tips

A friend sent this link to me today and I thought I would post it here.

http://www.babble.com/CS/blogs/strollerderby/archive/2009/04/27/top-5-tips-for-keeping-your-kids-safe-around-the-pool.aspx

In essence, here's what the article said:

The more adults there are at the pool, the less safe the kids are. When there are so many adults present, everyone always assumes someone else is watching.

1. So that has become our number one rule around the pool: Always assign one adult to watch one kid, or two kids, or however you want to work it. But always make it clear. Don't assume that all the adults will be watching all the kids. It just doesn't work.

If you've never seen a child slip under water before, you might be surprised at how silent it is. The child doesn't splash, or scream, or thrash around in the water. He just slips right under, completely quiet. That's what makes it so scary; you might think you'd notice the sound of a child drowning, but the fact is, there is no sound. That's why someone always needs to be watching.

2. Never leave a child alone in the water, even if it's a few inches deep. And even if you think the child can swim. She could get caught underwater, hit her head, or simply get tired in the middle of the pool. A child can drown in seconds, so even if you have to just run into the house to grab a towel, make sure someone is watching the kids, or bring them inside with you.

3. If you own a pool, use a pool cover and a fence. We have a pool with a locked electric pool cover and locking metal fence. No one is getting in the pool without us knowing about it.

4. Learn CPR.

5. Teach your child to swim! Take classes, teach him yourself, or ask a friend. If your child is under the age of 4, consider signing him up for a water survival class, which teaches toddlers and even infants to roll onto their backs should they fall in the water.

Scary stuff to think about, especially because I'd love to get Oliver in the pool this summa!