Water Safety Tips

1) Always empty blow-up pools after each use, and put them away.
2) Keep toilets closed and/or use childproof toilet locks.
3) Learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and infant and child first-aid.
4) Keep bathroom doors closed and install childproof devices to keep your child out of the bathroom (such as doorknob covers).
5) Install childproof fencing around swimming pools.
6) Encourage your adolescent to take swimming, diving, and water safety or rescue classes to give him/her the skills needed to swim and dive safely. These classes may also prevent your adolescent from acting recklessly.
7) On boats, PFDs should be US Coast Guard-approved. In fact, many states require the use of PFDs on all boats at all times.
8) Remove toys from the pool so that your child is not tempted to reach for them.
9) Blow-up swimming devices such as "water wings," rafts, toys, and other items are not considered safe and should not be relied on to prevent drowning.
10) Insist that your adolescent always swim with a buddy.
11) Do not let your child rough-house with others in the water in ways that may be mistaken for drowning.
12) It is important that the PFD is the correct size for your adolescent (life jackets are usually labeled "adult" or "child"). However, PFDs do not replace adult supervision.
13) Avoid pool slides; they are very dangerous.
14) Teach your child to stay calm and tread water until help arrives if he/she drifts too far from shore.
15) Insist that your child wear a US Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device on boats at all times.
16) Make sure you have rescue equipment, a telephone, and emergency phone numbers near the swimming pool.
17) Avoid letting your child play with blow-up water toys in water that is above the waist.
18) Do not allow children to dive in waters less than 9 feet deep.
19) Never leave your child unsupervised near water at or in the home, or around any body of water, including a swimming pool.
20) Make sure your adolescent checks the depth of the water before diving.
21) Do not allow riding toys near pools.
22) Do not rely on personal flotation devices (PDFs) or swimming lessons to protect your child.
23) Never leave a young child alone in the bathtub, not even for a minute. Even supportive bathtub "rings" cannot keep your child from drowning.
24) Keeping electrical appliances away from the pool to prevent electric shocks.
25) Do not allow your child to swim during thunderstorms or lightning storms.
26) Teach your adolescent never to swim or dive while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
27) Keep a telephone near the poolside for emergency use.
28) Do not let your child use a diving board in a pool that is not approved for it.
29) Empty any buckets or other containers with liquids.
30) Do not allow children to dive in waters less than 9 feet deep.
31) How to Prevent Child Drownings
32) Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools