Did you know that May is National Water Safety Month? As the warmer weather is upon us, more and more people will be looking to dive in and enjoy their swimming pools to cool off so there’s no better time to celebrate National Water Safety Month than May! From home pools and spas, to water parks and resorts, to public swimming and water recreation facilities, everyone should be enjoying the refreshing water – but being “safety aware” is the best way to celebrate and enjoy!
Some Steadfast Rules to Always Follow When Enjoying Your Swimming Pool:
ALWAYS Supervise Children
Children should never be allowed to swim unsupervised by adults anywhere. MedlinePlus (Health Information from the National Library of Medicine) reports that drownings can happen quickly and silently in as little as 2 inches of water. The CDC reports that most accidental drownings of children ages 1 to 4 occur in residential pools and most of those victims were reported being seen within the home less than five minutes prior while in the care of at least one parent. Adults who are supervising children should remain alert, vigilant and never turn away or get distracted, not even for a moment.
Do Not Swim During Thunderstorms
Never swim during a thunderstorm. Exit the water immediately when you hear thunder. Lightning often strikes water and water conducts electricity. If you swim and lightning strikes, you are risking serious injury or death.
Avoid Diving Headfirst
Do not dive headfirst into shallow or murky water, or any body of water with an uncertain depth. Diving in shallow water can cause serious injuries and drowning. Diving into murky water such as ponds, quarries or lakes without knowing the depth or underwater environment is extremely dangerous. Rocks and other objects in the water pose hazards. It is best to ALWAYS enter the water feet first.
Refrain From Horseplay in the Water
As fun as it is to swim with friends or family, refrain from horseplay such as dunking, hanging on to someone or allowing them to hang on to you while in the water. Horseplay can lead to an injury while in the water, thus increasing the risk of drowning.
Use Proper Flotation Devices
The American Academy of Pediatrics warns that inflatable toys, rafts, air mattresses and water wings should never be used as lifesaving devices for children and that only life jackets and life preservers approved by the U.S. Coast Guard should only be used.
First Aid, CPR and Pool Fences
It is a good idea for adults, especially those who are parents or who care for children, to learn basic first aid and CPR. Rescue measures can mean the difference between life and death, especially for families with residential pools. The CDC recommends four-sided pool fences that are at least 4 feet high with self-closing, self-latching gates unreachable by children and that open outward.
If you visit the official website for National Water Safety Month, you’ll find an abundance of free resources. These include free posters, home pool essentials courses, safety brochures, tip sheets, swimming rules and even videos. The campaign also has dedicated Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Flickr pages where you can easily access and share valuable water safety information with your family and friends. “The safe use of swimming pools, hot tubs and other recreational water facilities is a priority for everyone,” states APSP President and CEO Bill Weber. “National Water Safety Month serves to focus on the importance of water safety in all types of swimming environments.” All of us here at Pools by Bradley couldn’t agree with him more and, although we love having fun in the swimming pool as much as anyone else, want to encourage you to use the free resources, share them with others and help make this year’s National Water Safety Month a huge success!
Pools by Bradley is Here for YOU
Everyone here at Pools by Bradley lives and breathes our mission of designing and building your ultimate outdoor pool atmosphere. We intend to inspire you to improve the recreational time you spend with your family and friends in your new outdoor environment. BUT – we especially want it to be safe! Our motto is “take care of the customer and everything else will take care of itself”. When you choose Pools by Bradley to help you build your dream pool, you can rest assured that you’re choosing the very best. As a local family owned and operated company founded in 1996, we have received numerous design awards and honors. Pools by Bradley is rated as one of the top 50 pool builders in the U.S., plus recognized as the “Best Pool Company” in Orlando by Orlando Magazine several years in a row! We offer custom built pools and spas with additions ranging from water features and lighting effects to rain curtains and water slides…the sky’s the limit! Contact us online or call us today at 407-323-7496 to see how we can help you build the pool of your dreams!
