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Q:
By Dr. Veronica Naudin
D
Doocc TTaallkk
The doctor is in!
A:
Swimming Pool Safety
In California, having a pool in ones backyard is very
common. I personally have many fond childhood
memories of splashing around in our family pool with my
brothers and sisters. My parents were very vigilant with
watchingus and I am thankful that we never had any mishaps.
You are wise to be concerned about your small children.
Drowning is the leading cause of accidental death in the
homes of children under 5 years old. Most of these
events happen to children in a pool owned by their family.
In addition to being vigilant with watching your small
children, you can protect your family and enjoy your new
pool by taking some additional precautions.
Include barriers in the planning of your pool:
Fences: Install a fence or wall completely around the
pool. Fence gates should be self-closing and self-latching.
Door Alarms: Install an alarm that produces an audible
sound when a door is unexpectedly opened.
Power Safety Covers: New products are being designed
all the time. These covers are barriers that cover the water
of your pool and should inhibit access to the water.
Teach your children never to swim alone
It is absolutely critical for your children to understand that
swimming without supervision can be dangerous. This les-
son can be learned from a young age. In addition, when
you are having a party or social gathering "near" the pool,
assign a dedicated watcher for each of your children.
Consider putting your child in a life vest. Children are at
increased risk for drowning when adults are preoccupied.
Teach your children "safety swimming"
You can begin early swim lessons with your child. Some
programsbegin at 6 months. However, I usually recommend
waiting until your child is 1 year old before starting formal swim
lessons. Murray Callan in San Marcos has an excellent
reputation for young children. Children under age 5 should
have an adult present in the pool with them at all times.
Do not trust that your child can swim unattended until
your child is over 5 years old.
Although some children can swim at age 2 - 3, they are
not reliable. Their judgement of dangerous situations is
still immature. Therefore, do not consider your young child
to be drown proof simply because they have had swim les-
sons. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently
announced that their official policy statement on swimming
lessons is that children should begin swim lessons at age 5
or older. I believe this is due to the maturity level of older chil-
dren and their ability to follow rules consistently. When chil-
dren are learning to swim, assistance floats, which surround
your childs chest, such as Safe-T-Seal can be invaluable.
Learn CPR
Every adult in your home should learn CPR and rescue
breathing. Many classes are available. Always have
rescue equipment by the pool.
I hope these recommendations help you with your plan-
ning. You and your husband must decide if a home pool
is something that will benefit your family and your lifestyle.
If you decide to take the plunge, be cautious and never get
too relaxed with the safety of your children. When you fol-
low this advice, you likely will have many happy memories
of your children soaking in the California sunshine.
We wants to build a pool in our backyard. We have
two small children under age 4. Any suggestions?
www.pmapeds.com