For many families, backyard fun in the sun involves the swimming pool. Experts recommend setting the stage for swimming safety before a single bathing suit ever gets wet.

 

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“Swimming pool safety should be on the minds of every parent,” said Emily Piercefield with the Healthy Swimming Program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Reinforcing safe swimming practices with kids is the best way to make them second nature—like wearing seat belts.”

Here are some simple poolside health and safety tips:

• Check for Healthy/Safe Water—Swimming pools can be unhealthy if pool water is contaminated. The CDC recommends testing your pool’s water. Pool test strips can be used to test pool water for active sanitizer (chlorine, bromine, other), pH, total alkalinity and other water conditions. Dip a test strip into your pool or spa, then compare it to the color chart on the product’s label. You’ll know immediately how safe and clean your pool water is and what chemical adjustments are needed to ensure continued cleanliness. Public pool users can also pack water test strips in their pool bag to check that the water is safe for swimming.
• Prevent Swimmer’s Ear—To ward off swimmer’s ear, only swim in properly maintained pools, keep ears as dry as possible with a bathing cap or earplugs, and dry ears thoroughly with a towel after swimming.
• Keep Poolside Areas Clutter-Free—To prevent accidents such as slipping and falling into or around pools, make it a point to pack up pool toys and supplies that are not in use.
• Put Up Protective Barriers—Learn what types of enclosures, such as self-latching fences or gates, should be used to keep kids from entering your pool while unattended.
• Set Pool Parameters—Establish guidelines for kids and visitors. Make sure kids understand they should only swim when an adult is present and that they should never "go to the bathroom" while in a pool. Make sure all pool users understand the dangers of running, jumping and diving into and around pools.

 

About IEHA

The International Executive Housekeepers Association (IEHA) is a 3,200-plus member organization for housekeeping management. Executive housekeepers are managers that direct housekeeping programs in commercial, industrial or institutional facilities, including upscale hotels, hospitals, schools, and other public places. The non-profit was founded in 1930 in New York City, and is now located in Westerville, Ohio, a suburb of the state’s capitol.