Water safety essential for summer fun

Summer is upon us and backyard pools are open for everyone to cool off, but having fun also means being safe.

The CSA Group has compiled a list of pool safety tips to help Canadian families enjoy a safer swimming season.

“Before splashing away the summer heat, we encourage pool owners to take the necessary precautions to avoid any mishaps and advise parents, guardians and swimmers to be aware of CSA Group’s top ten tips for pool safety,” said Anthony Toderin with the CSA Group said.

“Think about the mechanical and electrical safety and construction safety of those pools,” advises Toderin.

When having fun in the water he reminds parents to keep an eye on the kids.

“Make sure that your children are in sight at all times; that you’re watching them while their in the pool or at the splash pad.”

Technology has advanced so that pool owners can monitor the water for swimmers or those that may have fallen in.

“An alarm will sound inside the building much like a normal intruder alarm that will alert a person if they are out of sight even for a few seconds if someone has fallen into the pool,” Toderin said.

While not everyone is a strong swimmer so have floatation devices available for fun and safety.

“Not everyone knows how to swim and not everyone is a strong swimmer so if you can’t swim safely have a life jacket or water wings.”

The CSA Group offers this list of pool safety tips:

• Consider an alarm: Pool alarms are new technology that detects an object breaking the surface of the pool water which can be used in combination with self-closing and/or self-latching gates for maximum safety around the pool.
• Install gates or fences: Barriers such as four-sided pool or pond fences can prevent young children from accessing the pool or pond area without a caregiver or supervisor knowing.
• Cover the water surface: Pools, hot tubs and whirlpool retailers sell anti-entrapment drain covers and a safety vacuum release system to automatically release suction and shut down the pump should entrapment occurs. Covers should be certified by an accredited testing and certification organization.
• Avoid loose clothing or untied long hair: Powerful pool drains and pumps can easily catch long hair or clothing in the pool. The suction from the pool, hot tub or whirlpool may be strong enough to hold swimmers under water causing drowning or other injuries.
• Stay away from the drains: Fingers and/or toes near or over drain covers also become targets for entrapment due to suction. Submersion in water for even a very short period of time can cause serious harm to swimmers. Poorly-made, non-functioning, defective or broken drain covers must be replaced.
• Use a personal floatation device: If swimming isn’t a strength wearing a life jacket, water wings or another safety device should be worn to ensure that the individual remains afloat in the water.
• A cover doesn’t always ensure safety: A child may drown if a child steps onto the cover, slips underneath it or becomes trapped, especially on a soft pool cover where water will likely collect on top of it once weight is applied.
• Follow manufacturer instructions: Always remove a cover completely before using the pool, and do not let standing water remain on top; pump it off.
• Drain unused water from in and around play spaces: The CSA standard for Children’s Play spaces and Equipment outlines the need for equipment to drain effectively so that water is not trapped or collected – forming a pool. Standing water creates a drowning hazard and can become a breeding ground for bacteria creating an additional public health related concern. Any broken or damaged splash pad equipment requires immediate attention to avoid an injury or drowning risk.
• Certification mark on products: Ensure that all electrical pool parts (lights, pumps, heaters, etc.) are properly certified by an organization like CSA Group. Hot tubs and whirlpools should also be certified.

With files from CSA Group