Backyard pools, bathtubs and even buckets deserve a second look. Here are the habits that keep young children safe around water at home.
Supervision beats every other safety measure
Fences, alarms and floatation aids all help, but none of them replace an adult whose eyes are actually on the water. Young children can get into trouble quietly and quickly, so the person supervising needs to be within arm’s reach of a toddler and free of distractions.
Decide who is watching before anyone gets in. In a group setting it is easy for everyone to assume someone else is on duty.
Check the pool gate every single time
A pool fence only works when the gate closes and latches on its own. Test it monthly by opening it and letting go. If it does not swing shut and latch, it needs fixing that week.
Keep chairs, pot plants and toys away from the fence line too. Anything climbable turns a compliant fence into a step ladder.
Empty anything that holds water
- Tip out paddling pools and buckets after use
- Empty the bath as soon as bath time is finished
- Keep bathroom doors closed and toilet lids down
- Store water containers upside down
Teach the wall, not just the swim
The skill that matters most for a young child who falls in is turning around and getting back to the edge. That is why turn around swims back to the wall are practised every week in our Beginner classes, long before anyone worries about stroke technique.
Confidence in the water is not the same as safety in the water. Children need both, and they are taught differently.
Keep lessons going through winter
Skills fade when practice stops. Our pool is heated all year round for exactly this reason, so the survival sequence your child learned in January is still there in July.
