Stephanie’s Mailbag: Pool Safety Tips

Stephanie: I'm baby-sitting all summer for a family with 3 boys ages 4, 7 and 9. The parents have given me the OK to use their pool especially since I have CPR and I'm a good swimmer. But do you have any other safety tips I can use?

Thanks,
Elizabeth Jude, Madera, CA Hi Elizabeth:
With summer in full swing, all kids are making tracks for the neighborhood pool, water parks, and beaches. But you're right, safety is a big issue. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 4,000 people drown each year.

Some good news is that this year some lifeguards are getting much needed help detecting swimmer's in trouble. Poseidon Technologies has recently unveiled the world's first computer-aided drowning detection system.

The system uses computer-vision technology to survey a pool continuously and monitor swimmers trajectories. An alarm signal, with incident location, is sent to the lifeguards pager if a swimmer is motionless for 10 seconds. Additionally, a workstation monitor displays 3-D images of the incident.

The systems already successful in Europe.

Until your pool has this technology, use these tips from the American Red Cross.

Pool safety tips:

• Enclose pools with fencing at least 4 feet high that a child cannot climb over. Use self-closing gates.



• Be sure that non-skid surfaces surround the pool. Children run on wet, slippery surfaces; they'll never walk to the diving board!



• Pool owners are usually legally required to fence out neighboring houses, but pools can be accessible from the owners' home. Use safety latches or mechanisms to prevent unsupervised access.



• Pool power safety covers must meet safety standards, be strong enough to withstand the weight of two adults and a child, and be able to be quickly removed from the water.



• Learn CPR! Free lessons are always available in your community.



• If a child is "missing" in the house, check the pool first. Seconds count.



• Don't permit the use of floating or inflatable toys in place of adult supervision. Never let children swim alone.



• Keep a phone and emergency numbers near the pool, as well as poles and flotation devices. (lots of grandparents can 'watch' children in the water, but not many are able to jump in or save a child).



• Be sure drains are covered in pools or hot tubs. The suction of the water drain can grab the hair and hold a child (even a teen or adult) under water. Pin long hair up or tie it back.

Other Water Safety Tips:

• Never never leave an infant, toddler or young child alone in the bathtub. Infant seats do sometimes tip over, and bathroom faucets can be lethal to little heads. Foam covers for faucets can be purchased or made.



• Life jackets must be worn while boating, and children must wear them even if the boat is tied to the dock or in shallow water.



• Have children learn to swim as soon as they can, but remember that they are never completely "water safe" even if they can swim.



• Don't let children swim in waters your not familiar with. Treacherous holes, drop-offs and undertows can be waiting under waters that appear safe.



• Have all children use the buddy system when they go swimming or play at the beach, even if you're nearby.

Stephanie Oakes is a fitness correspondent for Discovery Health Channel, a contributing editor for USA Weekend Magazine and the LA Times, and appears on NBC's 'Today in New York'. She can be reached at soakes@beststuff.com.