Swimming in Safety
In the summer heat, a splash in the pool is the ideal activity for the family. However, drowning is the second-leading cause of death for children so while you're swimming with the kids in the backyard, there are some safety concerns to consider.
Don Mays, senior director of product safety for Consumer Reports, appeared on "The Early Show" Wednesday with useful tips on how to make your pool safe for your family this summer.
Mays explained the biggest danger when it comes to pools is lack of adult supervision. No amount of gadgets or gizmos can replace an adult. He said there should be constant supervision if children are in the water and there should always be rescue equipment on hand because accidents do happen.
Public pools have this type of equipment, but private pool owners often don't think about these details. Hooks, life preserver rings, a basic first-aid kit, and a waterproof phone should always be near the pool area, he said.
Mays said hooks can easily grab someone out of the water and life rings help children float on the surface of the water in case they are too tired to swim out. A basic first-aid kit will have everything you need for minor cuts and bruises, and a water proof phone just in case you need to immediately call for help.
Mays goes on to establish what a safe pool environment should look like in your backyard. He suggests there be a barrier surrounding the pool at least four feet high that kids cannot climb, such as a fence with self-closing or self-latching gates.
Additionally, Mays said there should be an alarm on all doors in the home that lead out to the pool that can alert if you if someone has wandered into the pool area. Another alarm Mays suggests is a pool alarm.
"After testing, Consumer Reports likes Poolguard. There are different models for above and in-ground pools," said Mays, "Poolguard's model senses an underwater wave if child falls into pool and will sound an alarm in pool and in house. The top of water alarms are not as effective."
Aside from alarms, in-ground pools need safety covers. A cover made simply for solar heat or to protect from debris is not enough. If you have kids, you need a cover that will meet industry standards. Safety covers can support someone's weight if they walk on top of it. In addition, hot tubs should be covered and locked when not in use.
Inflatable pools are a very popular option for those that do not own an in-ground pool. Though inflatable pools are not too pricey, Consumer Reports recommends against them.
"They may be quick and easy to install, but they are still a drowning hazard, particularly because many if not most of these pools are installed without layers of protection from drowning," said Mays.
The larger ones can hold thousands of gallons of water and are not usually drained when not in use. And being such a cheap purchase, most don't worry about installing a fence around it. Most of these pools are left unattended, full of water, and easily accessible.
When it comes to smaller inflatable kiddie-pools, Mays said adults should make sure you drain them every night -- no exceptions. If the pool is too big to drain every night, Mays suggests a four-sided fence with a locking gate.
"With pools that are soft-sided, it's easy for a child to lean on the side and fall in. Covers don't keep kids out, and can even entrap them under water," said Mays. "From 2001-2009 there have been 209 drowning incidents in inflatable pools, 94 percent of those involve children under 5 years old."
There are safety precautions to think about in the water as well. A drain cover in the pool is extremely important. Mays suggest a safe drain cover that has a dome shape to it or a pyramidal shape to it-a profile that doesn't allow for easy body entrapment.
"Entrapment occurs when part of a child's body becomes attached to a drain because of the powerful suction of a pool or hot tub's filtration system," explained Mays, "It also can occur when a child's hair or swimsuit gets tangled in the drain or on an underwater object, such as a ladder."
In case the drain cover falls off, a backup system to make sure the drain is safe is a Suction Vacuum Release seen on "The Early Show" provided by Lesliespool.com. These can be put in existing pools, if the drain is covered; it shuts off immediately so that there is no suction.
If your family has an above-ground pool with a ladder, take the ladder out when the pool is not in use, and as always, there should be a fence surrounding the pool.
Above ground pools also have pumps on the outside. These pumps can also be climbing access to kids. Make sure to plug the pump into something that is shock protected GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interruptor) outlet, so if it gets wet, it doesn't shock.
Children are not the only members of the family to be concerned about when it comes to pool safety. Not all dogs and cats can swim, and even if they can swim, they can drown in a matter of minutes if they are not trained to get out of the pool.
"Doggie doors and crawling kids can be a deadly combination. Accidents involving children escaping through pet doors are more common than one might think," warned Mays. "In the past decade, more than 100 children have drowned, nearly drowned, or been injured after leaving the home through a pet door."
To keep kids and pets safe and healthy, make sure the pool stays well maintained with the proper water testing equipment which can be found at Lesliespool.com. Pools can make people sick if not cleaned properly. A pool should always have the proper level of chlorine and sanitizer or else it can be a breeding ground for bacteria.
Mays said, "A survey by the Water Quality and Health Council found that 47 percent of Americans admit to one or more behaviors that contribute to an unhealthy pool. Notably, one in five pee in the pool, and 35 percent skip the pre-swimming shower."
"The bottom line," said Mays, "(is) no single item can solve anything. That's why you need multiple layers of protection."
PoolGuard: http://www.poolguard.com/
For pool alarm and door alarm
Leslie's Pools: http://www.lesliespool.com
For Safety vacuum release system, safe drain covers, water testing equipment, and lifesaving equipment.