Swimming pool injuries happen frequently and can cause serious damage, especially to children. The following article will provide some helpful tips for preventing swimming pool injuries.
Swimming Pool Injury Statistics
The following section includes some notable statistics regarding swimming pool injuries:
- According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), non-fatal drowning injuries can cause severe brain damage that could result in long-term health issues including memory and learning problems.
- According to Live and Learn, more than 2,000 children under the age of 5 are treated in hospital emergency rooms for submersion injuries every year.
- According to the CDC, 50.2% of the emergency department patients required hospitalization or transfer for further care.
- According to the CDC, 50.1% of fatal incidents and 64.6% of nonfatal incidents among children 4 and under occurred in swimming pools.
How to Prevent Swimming Pool Injuries?
You can prevent swimming pool injuries by adhering to some of the following tips:
- Wear proper footwear. Most flip-flops and sandals are really unsafe in wet environments. As such, you should instead opt for specially-made water shoes with grips on the bottom in order to prevent slip and falls near the pool.
- Use the buddy system. It is always best to swim with a buddy. This is especially true for children, as they are at an even greater risk of pool-related accidents than adults.
- Put up your pool toys. Pool toys located haphazardly near the pool can pose a serious hazard (for example, someone could trip over them and land in the water). As such, you should establish a set place (such as a designated toy bucket or basket outside) to store all of your pool noodles and other water accessories. Keep in mind that leaving the toys in the water isn’t any safer, as it might serve as an open invitation for kids to try to reach in and grab them.
- Be careful with diving. Diving may seem like a fun thing to do but it has its own risks. You do not need to avoid diving altogether, but if you choose to dive, make sure that you never do so from a running start. Also, make sure that you always dive straight ahead (as opposed to off to the side) and that the water you are diving into is at least nine feet deep.
- Use a pool cover. You should always use a pool cover when the pool is not in use. By using a pool cover, you are keeping out all of the debris and potential outside hazards that could fall into the pool when it is not in use.
- Test the water. Before jumping in, you should consider dipping your toes in the water to make sure the temperature is comfortable for swimming. This is important because if the water is too cold, you can shock your body, resulting in an elevated heart rate, a rise in your blood pressure, and a slowing down of your muscle movements.
- Keep a life preserver nearby. It is better to be safe than sorry. You should always have a life preserver near the pool just in case someone ever needs to be rescued from the water.
Use depth markers. Make sure that you use obvious depth markers to alert your guests when they are starting to inch towards the deep end of the pool. This is especially important for those individuals who are in the pool but do not really know how to swim in deep waters.