Blog

RESOURCES TO HELP YOU KEEP EVERYONE SAFE AT YOUR POOL THIS SUMMER

Having a pool at your park is a sure way to attract families that want to enjoy some cool summertime fun. But, as you know, operating a public pool also comes with a huge amount of responsibility. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), drowning is the number one cause of unintentional death among children ages 1-4. But drownings are 100 percent preventable when the proper precautions are taken.

Here are some resources that can help your park, your guests and their kids stay safe this summer:

To help improve pool and spa safety, the CPSC operates a national public education campaign called Pool Safely: Simple Steps to Save Lives, with a goal to reduce childhood drownings, submersion injuries and entrapments. Through its website, the campaign offers a variety of helpful resources. Here are a few examples:

  • Take the Pool Safety Pledge Fliers – These outline the steps adults and kids can pledge to take to prevent child drownings. The fliers are downloadable in both English and Spanish.

 

  • Water Watcher Cards – This information card helps designate an adult water watcher to ensure someone is always supervising children in and near water. It lists the Pool Safely safety steps and instructions for the supervising adult. Downloadable cards are available on the site in both English and Spanish or cards with an orange lanyard attached can be ordered from the site.

 

  • Training Videos for Compliance with the VGB Act The Pool Safely site includes links to CPSC’s eight training videos for proper inspection of pools and spas for compliance with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act. The law was enacted by Congress in 2007 and became effective in 2008 to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments in pools and spas.

 

  • The Adventures of Splish & Splash – This is a fun, interactive video game that teaches kids how to be safer in and around the water. It can be downloaded for free on the Apple App Store and on Google Play. Let your guests know it’s available as a symbol of your commitment to keeping kids safe.

Water safety basics encourage understanding the ABC’s of Water Safety. “A” is for Adult Supervision, which means that a non-distracted adult must always have their eyes on swimmers. “B” is for Barrier, such as a fence around a pool with a self-closing, self-latching gate, a closed lid on a toilet or a closed door leading to the bathroom.  And “C “is for Classes and Coast Guard-approved lifejackets. Floaties are toys and do not count as lifejackets. Older kids and adults (including your staff members) should take CPR classes so they know what to do in case of an emergency.

Many local fire departments offer CPR classes to the public. The American Red Cross also offers CPR training as well as lifeguarding training and other aquatic and water safety courses and services.

By working together and using the community resources available, you, your staff and your guests can help make sure everyone stays safe at the pool this year. Have a great summer season!