As the hot days of summer approach, so does swim season. After you shop for a new bathing suit, be sure to brush-up on swimming pool safety. Whether you have a permanent in-ground pool or plan to purchase an above-ground pool for the kids to cool off in, take time to learn how to stay safe while still having fun this summer.

1. Learn CPR: Every parent should know CPR, but it is also a good idea for grandparents, baby-sitters and others responsible for the care or supervision of the child. When searching for a CPR class in your area, be sure to take age-appropriate training — for example, if you have a baby or toddler in the home, then request infant CPR in addition to the regular course.
2. Swimming Lessons: Teach your child or infant to swim this summer. Every child should learn to swim as soon as possible, especially if there is a pool on the property. Most communities offer private lessons or swimming classes for children of all ages.
3. Supervision & Spotters: Never leave children unattended, even if they know how to swim. Accidents or injuries often require immediate attention when water is involved. Supervision is necessary even if children are simply playing around the pool. When dealing with large groups of children, adult supervision should be supplemented with a spotter who is responsible for keeping an eye on individual children. This reduces the risk of losing track of a child even for a moment
4. Clear the Clutter: Reduce the risk of accidental slips and falls by keeping the pool area clean and clear of toys, pool equipment and other items. When the pool is not in use, it is a good idea to store toys away from the pool to prevent young children from inadvertently harming themselves while trying to obtain a toy.
5. Stormy Weather: Always check the weather report before planning a swim party, and be sure everyone leaves the pool at the first sign of stormy weather.
6. Keep Clean: Proper cleaning and maintenance of your pool is the first step in avoiding swimming-related illness. Never allow children or guests to swim if the pool hasn’t been cleaned or maintained even for a short period of time. Check the pH and filter on a regular basis and perform all regularly-scheduled maintenance in a timely fashion.
7. Personal Hygiene: Establish personal-hygiene guidelines for guests and children prior to allowing anyone to use the pool. Persons recuperating from a recent illness should not be allowed to swim in order to prevent contamination or transmission to others. Don’t rely upon chlorine alone to kill the germs in the pool! Remember, chlorine can take up to an hour or more to kill certain bacteria, by which point everyone in the pool has already been exposed. Make sure babies and toddlers wear swim-diapers at all times.
8. Keep Rescue Equipment Near: Essentials include a telephone with emergency numbers on speed dial, a life-preserver and a first-aid kit.
9. Establish Barriers and Boundaries: Children should know and understand age-appropriate pool rules, but it is still essential that parents do everything possible to prevent accidental drowning or submersion injuries by establishing physical barriers. Common barriers include a fence or wall, door alarms for the house and power safety-covers for the pool itself. No barrier is completely childproof, so it is important to maintain proper supervision. Physical barriers simply provide parents with a little extra time in the event that a child is out of sight for a few minutes.
10. Teach Them to Tattle! When it comes to swimming pool safety, make sure siblings and other children understand pool rules even when the pool is not in use. Accidents can happen when children hide under pool covers while playing hide-n-seek or during other creative play situations adults wouldn’t even think of. Make sure that children know to immediately bring any unsafe situations to the attention of an adult.

Take time this summer to implement swimming safety precautions so everyone is prepared for a full season of summer fun.