One of the best parts about living in South Florida is nearly year-round access to your pool. As we move through the heart of spring and into the summer, the pool becomes more and more attractive as an escape from the summer sun. And while your pool or spa is generally a nice place for the family to play, every year, hundreds of children under the age of 15 suffer from drowning and nonfatal submersion injuries. According to the CPSC’s “Pool and Spa Submersion: Estimated Injuries and Reported Fatalities Report, ”drowning deaths for children under the age of 15 averaged 385 annually between 2005 and 2007. Florida leads the country in childhood drownings, with the majority of these accidents occurring between May and August.
Most of these tragedies could have been prevented with training and safeguarding of the pool area. The most important safety measure is to make sure your children are always within arm’s reach when around a swimming area. As a parent of young children, I am all too familiar with how quickly arm’s reach turns into a chase. That is why it is essential to install a pool fence, to provide your children with swim lessons and to learn CPR.
The point of this article is not to ruin your summer fun, but to remind you of the inherent danger living in your backyard. By safeguarding your pool with the proper anti-entrapment drain covers and other preventative devices, you can greatly decrease the chance of a submersion-related accident. If you would like additional information about these services in the area, or if you have any questions regarding pool safety, please contact me at the email address listed on the left.
Enjoy the South Florida sun safely! ?
