Well, the kids are out of school and the lazy days of summer are upon you. At least you wanted the lazy days to be upon you, until you realized that your kids’ whining and excited pleas to go to the pool weren’t going to stop. Although the idea of lounging on a chaise by the Francis DC while your kids splash and play seems like a relaxing and ideal summer activity, the constant worrying and stress involved for their safety is enough to cause a heart attack.
You can’t bring yourself to say no to them, nor do you want to ruin their vacations by keeping them from swimming with their friends. So here’s your dilemma: how can you keep your children safe while still allowing them to have fun in the pool?
Virginia Pool Safety
The fear of drowning and worrying over whether your child is a good swimmer are huge concerns when your child is in a pool. However, his swimming skills aren’t the only things you should be worrying about. In some situations, it doesn’t matter if he’s a novice or Johnny Weissmuller—if you don’t educate him to take the proper precautions for pool safety (or if he refuses to take safety seriously) an accident could cause him catastrophic injuries.
The next time you and your family go swimming, especially in a public pool, remember to follow these safety guidelines to help protect your child from harm:
- Don’t allow him to go in an overcrowded pool, especially when there is a deep end. He could become disoriented, lost in the crowd, or unnoticed if he is pushed or forced under the water.
- Make sure his swimming abilities are good enough to keep him above the surface, and make sure he wears necessary flotation devices.
- Always keep an eye on him when he’s in the water, even if a lifeguard is on duty.
- Make sure he knows the importance of walking near potentially slippery areas, and that he never runs, jumps, or skips near the pool area.
- If he starts to cough after being submerged in the water, even if he appears to be fine afterward, make sure you monitor his breathing throughout the rest of the day to make sure he doesn’t have fluid in his lungs.
It’s always a good idea to stay within arm’s reach of your children when swimming. Since this may not always be possible (they’re with their friends, your other child may need supervision, etc.), it’s extremely important that they know and follow these guidelines to avoid a potentially serious injury or fatal accident.
Now that summer is here and pools are opening, make sure your family and friends are alert to ways to protect themselves. Sharing this page with them via Facebook can help them get the information they need to avoid an accident.
Contact a Virginia Personal Injury Attorney
If you or a loved one has already experienced a poolside accident and don’t know where to turn, we’re here to help. Contact us directly for a free consultation to discuss any potential questions or concerns you (or they) may have about a recent accident. We can help put your mind at ease. Call today at (703) 721-4233
