Pool Safety Tips

Stay Safe Around Water All Year Long The Lewisville Parks & Leisure Services offer the following tips that can improve the safety of your family around a residential pool, hot tub or spa: • Never leave a child unsupervised near a pool. In nearly every drowning or near drowning involving a child at a home pool, adults say the child was left alone for "just a second." • Instruct babysitters about potential hazards to young children in and around pools, andstress the need for constant supervision. • Completely fence the pool, install self-closing and self-latching gates, and make sure the gate latch is out of the reach of young children. Make sure all doors or windows leading to the pool area are secured. Pools are a prime temptation for children. • Do not consider young children "drownproof" because they have had swimming lessons. Young children should always be watched closely while swimming. • Do not use flotation devices as a substitute for careful supervision. • Never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, because children could become trapped underneath. Remove it completely before using the pool. • Place tables and chairs well away from the pool fence to prevent children from using them to climb into the pool area. • Keep toys away from the pool area. Children playing with toys could accidentally fall in. • Remove steps to above-ground pools when they are not in use. • Have a telephone at poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool if you receive a call. Keep emergency numbers with the poolside telephone. • Learn CPR. Lives can be saved if a family member or neighbor is able to perform CPR while waiting for rescue personnel to arrive. Contact the Lewisville Fire Department or the American Red Cross for information on CPR classes. • Keep rescue equipment by the pool, including life rings. • Never bring glass containers into the pool area. • Make sure that walking areas around the pool are smooth, level and slip-resistant. • The pool bottom should be light in color to help observers spot submerged objects. • Pool motion alarms can be installed that will sound when someone falls into a pool or if movement is detected in the water. This can be a lifesaving investment.