Safety Tips for Pools

With swimming season in St. Louis rapidly approaching, it’s time to reacquaint ourselves with swimming safety tips that can help keep adults and children safe while enjoying time in and around the pool.

Top Tips for Staying Safe in the Pool This Summer

Here are some top swimming safety tips everyone should know before they dive in:  

• Avoid running around the pool area. Pool areas have many slipping or tripping hazards, which can cause you to lose your footing and fall into the pool or to the ground if you aren’t careful. 
• Know the pool’s depth before going in. If a pool does not have depth markers around the side, enter the shallow end first and wade toward the deep end. Avoid jumping or diving into pools less than 10 feet deep since shallower water may not be sufficient to prevent you from hitting the bottom. 
• Avoid drains, pool skimmers, and any other holes or suction devices in the pool. Remove any loose objects like baggy clothing or jewelry that may get sucked into a skimmer or drain and trap you underwater. 
• Never swim alone. There should always be someone who can help if you have an accident or become incapacitated.

Here are some child pool safety tips parents can also follow to allow their kids to enjoy the pool safely this summer:

• Always have an adult supervise young children in and around the pool and ensure they obey the rules if swimming at public pools.
• Ensure that children know how to swim before allowing them in or near the pool. Consider enrolling children in swim lessons first.
• Teach children to stay away from pool drains, suction outlets, and pumps that can entrap bathing suits and children’s hair with powerful suction.
• Ensure that a pool has anti-entrapment drain covers before allowing children to enter.
• Install security measures to prevent unauthorized or unsupervised access to the pool, such as fencing with self-closing and self-latching gates, a pool cover, and alarms.
• Keep pool safety equipment within easy reach, including life jackets, a cell phone, a safety ring, a rescue hook, and other lifesaving devices.
• Consider getting certified to perform CPR on both children and adults.

What Should You Do if You (or Your Child) Is Involved in a Swimming Pool Accident? 

If you or your child suffers a pool injury, taking fast action is important not just to your medical outcome but your ability to pursue compensation. Here are some crucial steps you can take after a pool accident in St. Louis: 

• Seek prompt medical attention and document your injuries.
• Follow your doctor’s treatment plan.
• Obtain copies of your medical records.
• Report the accident to the pool owner or operator.
• Keep all bills, invoices, and receipts for medical expenses, and gather your pay stubs and income statements if you miss work during your recovery.
• Contact a pool accident attorney at Sumner Law Group, LLC, as soon as possible to discuss avenues for obtaining financial recovery for your harm and loss. 

Talk to Our St. Louis Personal Injury Attorneys for Help

If you or your child has been hurt in a swimming pool accident, get the legal help you need to demand accountability from the people to blame. Contact Sumner Law Group, LLC, today for a free, no-obligation consultation with our St. Louis personal injury lawyers to discuss your legal options.