Toddler Pool Safety – Preventing Accidents This Summer

Colburn Law

Posted in Safety Tips on June 12, 2019

Swimming during the summer months is an exciting activity for young children. Although this aspect of summer fun is a staple for many families, enforcing safety practices is essential in preventing unnecessary accidents. Maintain the fun of pool-time by taking into consideration a few safety tips that will keep your little ones safe.

Stay Away From Pool Habitats

Pool habitats are a class of inflatable toys that create an enclosed environment. These seem ideal for small children simply because they mirror the pool-equivalent of play pens. Moreover, many just look fun, making them extremely attractive to small children. However, these toys are extremely slippery, and possess blind spots that make it hard to enforce proper supervision.

Pool habitats also pose a significant danger to your toddler because they aren’t stable. They flip easily, which could cause injury by ejecting your child into the side of the pool, or into the water. This is dangerous for children who don’t know how to swim. Pool habitats are also large in comparison to small children. They could easily trap your child under the pool’s surface if overturned.

Use Inflatable Toys Correctly

Inflatable toys are essential in some pool-loving families. Although you should continue to use these fun pool additions, keep special considerations in mind when you introduce them to your toddler.

You should not use inflatable toys as flotation or safety devices. Toys like floaties and noodles may seem perfect to keep your toddler afloat because of their inherent buoyancy, but this is not what manufacturers intend for their use. Inflatable toys don’t safely secure to your child the way a life vest or swim vest does and can easily result in drowning if your child lets go of the toy.

Inflatable toys can also overcrowd a pool environment. Overcrowding makes it difficult to adequately monitor your child while they are swimming. Even several large inflatable items are liable to cause problems because they obscure large portions of the pool. Overcrowding caused by toys can also be a drowning hazard if your child becomes trapped underneath one. It is essential to properly regulate these toys when you do want to add them to your swimming experience.

Choking Hazards

Certain small toys, like diving toys, can pose a choking hazard to your toddler. Some manufacturers create toys that expand when placed in water but are small enough to be choking hazards before expansion. Keep an eye out for toys that come with small pieces, or toys only meant for older children to use. Although your toddler may seem like a big kid as they get older, they still have the tendency to put interesting-looking items into their mouths – including pool toys.

Proper Supervision and Emergency Practices

One of the best ways to prevent accidental drowning is to effectively supervise your toddler. When swimming with friends or family, designate a supervisor who you can rotate shifts with. Someone should always be watching children who are at play.

Part of effective supervision involves creating a safe space for children to play in. Removing debris and/or miscellaneous toys from the surrounding areas of the pool will prevent tripping and falling. Maintaining safe pool-covering practices will also prevent drowning if your toddler runs to the pool before you can establish proper supervision. Some caretakers opt to gate-off the pool area to prevent this.

In the case of emergency, it is crucial to know basic CPR. Scary situations like this happen daily, and they could very well save your child’s life one day.

Swimming is a fun way to cool off during summer break, but even this exciting activity requires an adequate level of seriousness on the caregiver’s part. Make sure that your toddler’s time in the pool as marked by thoughtful memories rather than injury. For more information about pool safety tips, speak to a Bellevue personal injury lawyer at Colburn Law today.