The summer heat is beginning to set in here in Arizona, and if your family is like most, your kids (and perhaps a host of their friends) are in and out of the pool all day. At Shea Homes we are passionate about caring for our customers, and we want to take a minute to offer a refresher on water safety as we enter the hotter months.
According to the American Red Cross, home pools are the most common drowning site for children ages one to four years old. Because of this real danger, most Arizona cities require some form of barrier around your pool. However, as a parent or neighbor, you are the most valuable protection for children who spend time in and around your pool.
Here are some suggestions on how to keep the pool fun and safe this summer:
Active adult supervision is the key to making sure that children are safe around the pool. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents provide “touch supervision” for infants and toddlers, where the child is within arms’ reach of the supervising parent. For older children, parents should pay constant attention and be free from any distractions such as talking on the phone, socializing, cooking, doing other household chores, and drinking alcohol.
Parents can also help keep children safe by enforcing safety rules around the pool. Here are some rules that the AAP recommends for home pools:
– Never swim without an adult
– Keep toys away from the pool when the pool is not in use
– Empty blow-up pools after each use
– No tricycles or other riding toys at poolside
– No electrical appliances near the pool
– No diving in a pool that is not deep enough
– No running on the pool deck
Remember, anyone supervising young swimmers should be able to swim themselves. In addition, parents should keep a telephone nearby the pool in order to call 911 quickly if needed and can also learn CPR in order to be more prepared should an emergency occur. CPR classes are offered at many local community centers, fire stations and YMCAs. These locations can also be great resources for parents hoping to enroll their children in swimming lessons.
At Shea Homes, we want to help keep our communities and families safe this summer. We hope you will join us in making water safety a priority.
Sales by Shea Homes Marketing Company (AZ DRE #CO550381000), Construction by Shea Homes Limited Partnership (ROC 195895).