With the end of summer creeping up on us many families across California will spend one final weekend together before school starts anew. Millions of people will travel for one final getaway in the hopes of holding onto all that summer has left to give us. There’s no better way to spend the holiday weekend then at the pool. Public pools can be nerve wracking, especially when you are there with your children. Our Los Angeles premises liability attorney shares the following safety tips for the public pool this Labor Day weekend.
Swim Only Near a Lifeguard
One of the most important tips you can follow when at the pool this Labor Day weekend is to swim only near a lifeguard. Even if you are at the pool during the day and the lifeguards go off duty you should exit the pool. There’s no reason to chance getting injured in the pool or even drowning to go for a quick swim when there are no lifeguards on duty. Lifeguards are not only trained to spot swimmers in distress, they can also administer CPR, first aid, and other emergency services.
Always Watch Your Children
If you are going to the pool with your children you need to watch them constantly. It takes a matter of seconds and only inches of water for a child to drown. No matter their age, children need to be supervised by an adult when they are near or in a pool. This is the only way to ensure that they do not succumb to accidental drowning.
Children can easily fall into a pool, especially those who are younger and have little balance. If your child goes missing at the pool you need to first look for them in the water as precious seconds could mean the difference between life and death.
Learn How to Swim
Whether you are an adult, a teen, or have a child you need to learn how to swim before getting in the pool this Labor Day weekend. There’s no reason you should ever enter a pool not knowing how to swim.
This is especially important for children. They need to know how to stay afloat, find the wall, and keep their head above water should they get into trouble in the pool. Many public pools hand out bands to children between certain ages that show which pool they are allowed to be in, such as the adult pool or the kiddie pool.
Walk, Don’t Run
Every public and private pool will likely have the same rule: walk, don’t run. Running on the concrete that is along the perimeter of the pool will only lead to a slip and fall accident. This could cause the person running to fall into the pool, hit their head, or hurt an ankle or foot. It’s best to always walk when at the pool so that you do not fall into the water.
Did you lose a loved one to accidental drowning? Were you injured at a public pool this summer?
