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By Jeffrey Peebles, M.D. – Southlake MedicalbrDirector, CompletebrCare
The Centers for Disease Controlreports that among children ages 1 to 4, drowning is the leading cause of deathbrdue to injury. With summer just about in full swing, here are some tips thatbrwill help keep your child safe around the swimming pool so that you do not havebrto take an unexpected trip to your nearest emergency medical facility.
Constant Supervision
Having an adult to supervisebrchildren at all times when they are in or near a pool is vital to helpingbrensure their safety. If there are any infants or toddlers in the pool, an adultbrmust be in the water with them, always at arm's reach. Even if the children arebrolder, adults still need to be nearby. You must not be distracted whilebrsupervising; turn off the phone, do not take care of household chores, andbrdefinitely do not drink alcohol.
Establish Rules
You need to establish poolbrrules and make sure they are strictly followed. For example, do not allow anybrtoys near the pool when the pool is not being used and empty all blow-up toysbronce everyone is done swimming. Also, do not allow any tricycles or bicycles atbrpoolside and keep all electrical appliances at a safe distance. Make sure nobrone runs on the pool deck or dives in a pool that is not deep enough.
Fences
It is very easy for a smallbrchild to get to a pool that is not surrounded by a protective fence. Childrenbrcan get through a doggy door, through a window or through a door that has beenbrcracked open. Fences need to be climb-resistant, without any type of furniturebrof other item nearby that could be used to help a child get over. They alsobrneed to be at least four feet high with no more than four inches of space betweenbrthe slats.
Gates should self-latch,brself-close and be well maintained, and should only open away from a pool. Thebrlatch should be at least 54 inches from the bottom of the gate so that smallbrchildren cannot open it.
Drains and Filters
Tragically, many childrenbrdie because they swam too closely to a pool drain or filter and were trapped bybrthe suction. Keep all swimmers away from these areas to eliminate the chancesbrthey will be harmed.
By following just a fewbrbasic safety precautions, you can make sure everyone stays protected and stillbrhas a great time in the pool this summer.
If you or a loved one ever experiences a swimmingbrpool accident or any other type of medical emergency, get in touch with thebrexperts at Complete Care. Contact us online to learnbrmore.
Dr. Jeffrey Peebles, M.D. has an extensive amount ofbrexperience in delivering advanced emergency care. He is board certified withbrthe American Board of Emergency Medicine, and a member of the American Collegebrof Emergency Physicians/Texas College of Emergency Physicians. Dr. Peebles isbrcommitted to providing timely, affordable and high-quality medical care to thebrSouthlake community.