INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE POOL SAFETY #1 EFFECTIVE Permanent Fence Pool Toys SUPERVISION • Permanent 4-sided pool fence • Outdoor toys should be stored in with a self-locking gate an area that is isolated from the • Supervision is the first, and most critical line of • Periodically shake-test every part pool deck defense to prevent of your pool fence • Keep your pool deck clean and drowning. • Do not allow your child to play on clear • Segment Supervision by and/or climb the fence • Pool tools are not pool toys designating a specific • Remove patio furniture that may period of time to devote be pushed or pulled and used as Alarms your complete and a ladder • Make sure all doors leading to undivided attention to your the pool are locked and alarmed child who is around the Pool Water • Alarms should indicate that water (15 min.) - Don’t • Keep the water level at the someone is in the pool area or answer the phone, don’t uppermost point has opened/closed a door or read and don’t talk to other • Aim jets and in-floor jets to the gate, or is trying to climb the adults - give your child shallow end of the pool fence 100% of your attention • Waterfalls in pool areas create a • Designate one parent as noise level that may compete Educate Others the Water Watcher so there • Friends and family may not are never questions about with a cry for help understand the importance of which adult is responsible for watching the child Phone keeping gates closed, doors • Never answer your phone during locked, closing toilet seats, Segmented Supervision emptying buckets, etc. • Carry a cell phone with you at all • Visiting family, holiday parties and times to call 911 in an emergency celebrations can lead to • Have an outside pool phone breakdowns in routine designated for emergencies only supervision and effective barriers • Have your address printed out to the water next to your outdoor phone for • If a child is missing, look for him emergency situations or her in the pool or spa first Please be cautious of the curiosity and fun doggy doors can be for young children. Drain Entrapments are a SERIOUS danger. Please make sure your children: • Do not play or swim near drains or suction outlets especially in spas and shallow pools • Never enter a pool or spa that has a loose, broken or missing drain cover • If you see a broken or loose drain cover, immediately notify a lifeguard or pool/spa manager • Children’s public wading pools, other pools designed specifically for young children and in-ground spas that have flat drain grates and single main drain systems pose the greatest risk of entrapment Information provided by: www.PoolSafely.gov ISR Family Aquatic Safety List www.infantswim.com INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE HOT TUB SAFETY Water Temperature • Bubbles in a hot tub drastically reduce visibility and make the water To prevent dehydration, or heat- • too interesting for little ones to want related illness, keeping the water SPAS, to investigate further temperature below 100 degrees JACUZZIS AND Fahrenheit is safer for small children HOT TUBS CAN •Always check the temperature first Covers & Locks with your hand before entering • When the spa or hot tub is not in BE use, secure it with a hard top cover PARTICULARLY Limit Play Time with a latch that locks ENTICING TO •Limit your child’s playtime in the YOUNG CHILDREN water to less than 10 minutes Hot Tub Controls •If your child’s face turns red, has • Find a way to prevent children from nausea or dizziness, take the child manipulating the controls for the hot THINK OF IT out of the water immediately and tub. Once they find out how to apply cold water to the forehead activate the jets, they will, whether FROM YOUR with a saturated towel you are there or not CHILD’S PERSPECTIVE... Jets & Bubbles BUBBLES, JETS •Keep the jets off, the currents that can be created by the jets can be AND WARM particularly strong, and are very WATER = FUN! dangerous for a young child Remember, drowning is a silent epidemic. A child will slip into a pool or spa without a sound or a splash. Install VGB-Compliant Drain Covers One of the most important factors in keeping children and adults safe from entrapment incidents in pools and spas is to install anti-entrapment or safety drain covers that are compliant with the P&SS Act. Drain entrapments are frequently the result of a swimmer’s body, hair, limbs or clothing becoming entangled in a faulty or flat drain or grate. The best defense against entrapments is to prevent them before they happen by installing federally-compliant drain covers. Inspect your drain cover regularly to make sure it’s not broken and is not missing. For a full list of manufacturers of the VGB-compliant products visit www.PoolSafely.gov ISR Family Aquatic Safety List www.infantswim.com INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE BATH TUB SAFETY Supervision No Slip Strips •Never leave your child alone in • Place ‘no slip’ strips to the the bathtub bottom of the tub and regularly •Don’t answer the phone, the door used areas in the bathroom as or get a towel -- if you need to little bodies slip and fall easily on leave take your child with you wet surfaces •Watch your child from the • Add a “no slip” slip bath mat moment they get in the tub until outside of the tub to prevent the moment they get out and dry accidental falls from water being CHILDREN SEE BATH off splashed out of the tub •Don’t leave a baby or toddler in a TIME AS AN bathtub under the care of another Phone young child EXCITING • Take a portable phone with you ADVENTURE into the bathroom. Use it for Check the Water First emergency calls only during bath • Always, always check the time temperature first, particularly when you are at a hotel or visiting Bath Toys and giving your child a bath in a Do not allow any small tub toys After pools, more different tub • or parts of toys that could be • Even bath tub water can cause children drown swallowed or choked on in bathtubs than scalding burns in any other Electrical Appliances Baby Seats Baby bath seats are not a product in and • Make sure your tub area is clear • of electronic appliances. Hair substitute for supervision. A bath around the home. dryers are responsible for several seat is a bathing aid, not a safety electrocutions a year device • Unplug items that are not in use Information provided by the Consumer Product Safety Commission - www.cpsc.gov CPR - If an emergency happens, it is essential parents and families are prepared. The American Red Cross recommends individuals know CPR before theyBaby administer Shower the procedure-- More inEffective an emergency than situation. Baby Learn Bath to perform CPR on I know children Harvey and hasadults something and remember on this. to update those skills regularly. CPR courses are available in local communities through public and nonprofit groups such as the American Red Cross and the American Heart Association. Adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure a safe and fun experience, because you can never know which one might save a child’s life—until it does. Information provided by: www.PoolSafely.gov ISR Family Aquatic Safety List www.infantswim.com INFANT SWIMMING RESOURCE BOAT & LAKE SAFETY Supervision Towing • Lakes and rivers can be especially • When towing children and/or dangerous because of their dark adults in pairs, use the rule LIFE JACKETS and sometimes fast-moving water, when one falls, everyone falls. If your family owns a boat, or therefore effective supervision of You never know when you enjoy boating with your child anytime he is around someone might be injured in others, there are several the dock, river or lake is especially the water special precautions that critical need to be taken. Everyone Onboard • Coast Guard regulations Safety Tools • Account for everyone who require that children always • Have a rope and throw ring on should be on the boat BEFORE wear a life jacket on a boat. your boat or dock such that these you start the engine • Test Your Life Jacket -- can be used in a moment’s notice please be aware that many life jackets will float your Cell Phone child in a face down Bow Riding • Always remember to bring a position, so test your life • Do not allow small children to ride phone on the boat and place it jacket before going out on in the front of the boat while the in a designated spot. If you the water. boat is moving, uncontrollable have to go into the water to wake can propel a child from the rescue someone, will you boat remember to take it out of your pocket first? Keeping it safe around the DOCK If you have a dock on or near your property take special precautions: 1.Paint or tape a brightly colored ‘do not cross’ line on that dock at least 2-3 feet from the edge of the dock, and teach your child that they should never cross that line without a parent 2.Dock pylons are often covered in algae or barnacles and it can be impossible to hold on if they fall in the water. Instead install a PVC piping on the pylons of the dock so there is something for your child to hold onto if he/she falls into the water 3.Keep your dock well illuminated 4.Remove submerged debris from around the dock 5.Make periodic hive, nest and habitat checks for ants, wasps, bees, snakes, spiders, etc.