|
|
|
HOME
POOL SAFETY |
|

|
- Learn to swim. The best thing anyone
can do to stay safe in and around the water is to learn to swim--this
includes adults and children. The American Red Cross has swimming
courses for people of any age and swimming ability. To enroll in a
course to learn or improve your ability to swim, contact the Mid-Rio
Grande Chapter at 505-265-8514, ask for Health & Safety Services
.
- Never leave a child unobserved around
water. Your eyes must be on the child at all times. Adult supervision is
recommended.
- Install a phone by the pool or keep a
cordless phone nearby so that you can call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
- Learn Red Cross CPR and insist that
babysitters, grandparents, and others who care for your child know CPR.
- Post CPR instructions and 9-1-1 or
your local emergency number in the pool area.
- Enclose the pool completely with a
self-locking, self-closing fence with vertical bars. Openings in the
fence should be no more than four inches wide. If the house is part of
the barrier, the doors leading from the house to the pool should remain
locked and be protected with an alarm that produces sounds when the door
is unexpectedly opened.
- Never leave furniture near the fence
that would enable a child to climb over the fence.
- Always keep basic lifesaving equipment
by the pool and know how to use it. Pole, rope, and personal flotation
devices (PFDs) are recommended.
- Keep toys away from the pool when it
is not in use. Toys can attract young children into the pool.
- Pool covers should always be
completely removed prior to pool use.
- To learn more about home pool safety,
you can purchase the video "It Only Takes a Minute" from
the Mid-Rio Grande Chapter.
- If a child is missing, check the pool
first. Go to the edge of the pool and scan the entire pool, bottom, and
surface, as well as the surrounding pool area.
|
|

|
|
|
|