Everyone Into The Pool!

It's summertime in Maine and there's no better place to be than in the pool, your own pool, a neighbors pool or the city pool.  It's great to be able to just jump right in for a refreshing swim and escape the heat and humidity of the day.

Although swimming pools can offer a ton of summertime fun they can also be dangerous for children if you don't take proper precautions. I know you've heard the rules before but let's just take a few moments to review.

Pool Safety                                                

• Public wading pools, in-ground pools and hot tubs have flat drain grates and/or a single main drain system that can cause a child or adult to get entangled below the surface of the water. Best to stay clear of the drain areas.
• Never swim in a pool or hot tub that has a broken, loose or missing drain cover either.
• Don't take your eyes off your children when they are around water and have a phone nearby to call for help in an emergency.
• If you own a pool, make sure it has four-sided fencing and a self-closing, self latching gate to prevent a child from wandering into the pool area.
• Hot tubs should be covered and locked at all times when not in use.
• From the start, teach children not to go near the water without an adult.
• Teach your children to swim from an early age so that they are always able to provide that level of protection for themselves for their whole life.
• Learn CPR and know how to respond in a water emergency.

Home Drowning Prevention Tips

Whether you have a pool or not, drowning is still a hazard around your home. Just think of the tub, toilet and a bucket of water and make sure you are aware of where your small children are at all times.

• Always stay within an arms reach of your child when near the bathtub, toilets, pools, spas or buckets.
• Let the phone ring, nothing is more important than your child during bath time.
• Drain the tub immediately when bath time is over.
• Empty all buckets, containers and kiddy pools immediately after use and store them upside down out of children's reach.
•  Keep toilet lids closed and use safety locks specifically designed to lock the lid in a down position.
• Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed to prevent very small children from entering and being exposed to water sources.
• Don't trust the baby bath ring, still hold your child every minute.

Thank you for taking the time to review these water safety rules. You can find more water rules and other safety information at the link below.
http://www.safekids.org/safety-basics/safety-resources-by-risk-area/drowning/open-water-safety-tips.html

This information is courtesy of Safekids.org.

We urge you to always go above and beyond to keep your children safe. Ask for help if you need it. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child and it's a 24/7  job.  It's also the best job you'll ever have!

Take care and have a great summer!