Prevent drowning: tips for pool owners

• Always designate a child watcher when there are children playing in and around a pool. Never allow children to play around a pool unsupervised.
• Tell the baby sitters about pool safety, supervision and the importance of preventing drowning.
• Enforce rules such as no running, no pushing, no dunking and never swim alone.
• Don’t rely on swimming lessons or flotation devices to protect your children when swimming.
• Even if you think that your pool area is secure, never leave children unsupervised in a garden with a pool. Always keep an eye on them, in the house or outside.
• Attend a CPR class. Make sure your baby-sitter has attended a CPR class.
• Encourage neighbours who have a pool to follow pool safety guidelines:
  • Keep their gates and doors locked
  • Keep their pool gates securely closed and latched.

(Health24, updated December 2009)