Ochsner Dives into Pool Safety

    Pool time is one of the most popular ways for families to escape the summer heat. While pool-related activities can be an enjoyable event, it can also be very dangerous for infants and small children who lack the cognitive ability to discern the dangers of water. A baby or toddler can drown in less than an inch of water.
     Edward Sledge, Jr., MD, Pediatrician, Ochsner Health Center – Summa, offers tips to ensure summer swimming stays safe and fun for the entire family.
     Constant supervision is essential. Dr. Sledge warns against allowing children to swim alone or without adult supervision, no matter their level of swimming skills.
     “An adult should be within arm's length of infants and toddlers in or around water,” says Dr. Sledge. “Always know where your children are and never assume someone else is watching them. If your child is missing, always check the pool first.”
     Adults supervising swimming children should not be distracted by talking on the phone, reading, socializing, cooking or other activities.
Prevention saves lives
     Dr. Sledge recommends having some type of pool security system in place.
There are a variety of options:
· Install a second lock on all doors leading to the pool, making sure they are well out of toddler reach.
· Door and pool alarms help warn adults of unauthorized access to the pool area.
· Fence in the pool area completely; ensure the fence has a minimum height of 48 inches with a self-closing/self-locking gate.
· Keep all “climbable” objects away from the fence, as they could assist a curious toddler in getting over the fence.
· Pool safety covers can also offer another layer of safety precaution.
· Store toys away from the pool when not in use so children won't be tempted to go near the water.
· Keep all entrances to the pool closed and locked when not in use.
· Keep water levels full in pools to ensure that if a child falls in they can reach the ledge.
    Beware of pool drains, a hidden home hazard. The suction from a pool drain can be strong enough to hold even an adult underwater, pulling on the hair or on the body and forming a seal that holds them down. Install anti-entrapment devices on pool drains.
     “It is important to establish family pool rules early on – such as never entering the water without mommy or daddy,” says Dr. Sledge. “Also, prepare a family emergency action plan that includes keeping life jackets, preservers or a shepherd's crook by the pool. Remember, children will panic if the adult panics. In the event of an accident, stay calm and react quickly and effectively.”
     Always having access to a phone by the pool area for use in an emergency situation also eliminates the need to run into the house to grab a call while children are swimming.
     Younger children, older than age one, may benefit from swimming lessons, but check with your doctor first. Parents who do not know how to swim or are uncomfortable near the water should also enroll in swim lessons.
     Don’t put a baby less than six months old under the water. Although infants naturally hold their breath under water, they continue to swallow.