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Did you know that one of the leading causes of death in children ages 1 to 4 is drowning? Carefully supervise your children, secure the area around your backyard pool and teach your children about water safety. This can help prevent serious injuries and death.

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Pool Safety Tips

1. Keep long hair tied back.

2. Walk instead of run on the pool deck.

3. Always supervise your children when in the pool.

4. Make sure you look before entering the pool --  “look before you leap”.

5. Stay away from pool drains.

6. Keep your children close - within arms reach.

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Parents/Guardians - when supervising your children in the water, Put your phone away!  

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Supervising children

By keeping  young children and inexperienced swimmers in view and within arm's reach at all times when they are in water, this will reduce the risk of serious injury.

Carefully supervising your children while they are swimming or playing in or near water is important at all times. Children should always have someone watching them, even when they use swimming aids such as armbands, floating seats, water wings and neck rings. They are not intended to save lives. Swimming aids can give a false sense of security, which could result in a lack of proper supervision. Careful supervision is essential to keep children safe.

More tips to help keep your children safe around water.

• Sign your children up for swi2mming lessons. There, they will learn about water safety, become more comfortable in the water and become better swimmers.

• Sign yourself up for a first aid training program to learn the basic of lifesaving skills.

• Make sure young children and inexperienced swimmers always wear an approved lifejacket or personal flotation device (PDF) when playing near or around the water. Learn how to find the right lifejacket or personal flotation device for your children.

• Always choose a safe place to swim, such as a supervised beach or public swimming pool. Check with your municipality or on their website for health and safety notices before wading into the water. This can include warnings about water pollution levels or a strong current or undertow.

Did you know...

Children can drown very quickly and quietly, even in just a couple centimeters of water. Make sure to lock access to the pool (even shallow portable pools) when an adult is not present.

Pool safety

Every year children drown in backyard swimming pools. Children ages 1 to 4 are most at risk. Here are a few tips to secure the area around your swimming pool and help keep children safe.

Build a fence

Many children drown in unsecured backyard pools. Build a fence around your pool to help prevent drowning accidents.

• Check with your city or town to determine the rule for building/having a pool fence (most fences have to be 1.2 meters tall) 

• Have a gate that is self-closing and latching. This latch should be above the a young child's reach. If possible, keep the gate locked at all times.

• If able to, keep all furniture, garden tools and toys away from the side of the fence. Children are able to climb up on them and get over the fence and to the pool.

Prepare for pool safety

Be prepared for pool safety or emergencies.

• Always keep your lifesaving equipment (such as a safety ring with a rope) and a first aid kit near the pool.

• Have the emergency numbers for your area, by the phone nearest to the pool.

Clean up after pool time

After everyone is done swimming in the pool, make sure you take the time to properly clean up.

• Put all floaties and toys away after pool time. Leaving toys in or near the pool can tempt children to go get them and put themselves in danger. 

• Make sure that the gate and all access points to the pool are locked.

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/injury-prevention/swimming-safety.html

https://www.redcross.ca/training-and-certification/swimming-and-water-safety-tips-and-resources/swimming-boating-and-water-safety-tips/backyard-pools

https://www.lifesavingsociety.com/water-safety/backyard-pools.aspx