U.S. Commission Shares Pool Safety Tips for Holiday

Last year 25 children under the age of 15 were involved in drowning incidents  during the week of the July 4 holiday, according to USA Swimming. As family's gear up to take their little ones to the pool, or to swim in Lake Michigan, Patch wanted to share the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's (CPSC) key swimming safety tips.

CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign (www.PoolSafely.gov) is a national public education effort to reduce child drownings, near-drownings and entrapments in swimming pools and spas. The campaign’s message is that Simple Steps Save Lives. Simple water steps that could help families avoid a tragedy this holiday include:

Staying Close, Being Alert and Watching Children in and Around the Pool

• Never leave a child unattended in a pool or spa and always watch your children closely around all bodies of water
• Teach children basic water safety tips
• Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapments
• Have a telephone close by when you or your family are using a pool or spa
• If a child is missing, look for him or her in the pool or spa first
• Share safety instructions with family, friends and neighbors

Learning and Practicing Water Safety Skills

• Learn how to swim and teach your child how to swim
• Learn to perform CPR on children and adults, and update those skills regularly
• Understand the basics of life-saving so that you can assist in a pool emergency

Having the Appropriate Equipment for Your Pool or Spa

• Install a four-foot or taller fence around the pool and spa and use self-closing and self-latching gates; ask your neighbors to do the same at their pools
• Install and use a lockable safety cover on your spa
• If your house serves as a fourth side of a fence around a pool, install and use a door or pool alarm
• Maintain pool and spa covers in good working order
• Ensure any pool and spa you use has drain covers that comply with federal standards, and ask your pool service provider if you do not know
• Have lifesaving equipment such as life rings, floats or a reaching pole available and easily accessible

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