Pool Safety

This weekend not only marks the official start of barbeque season it also marks the beginning of pool season.

One of the sites I check regularly notes 10 rules to prevent drownings. June, July and August, as you'd imagine, see the highest number of children lose their lives in water. In fact, drowning is the leading cause of accidental death among toddlers ages 1 - 2.

So a group of UCLA emergency doctors remind parents, or any adults supervising water activities and pools:

1- never leave kids unattended - even for a moment
2-fence pools with self locking gates
3-always secure the safety cover on your spa or hot tub
4-don't leave containers around that kids can fill with water - little ones have been known to drown in a bucket of water
5-and with that in mind, always supervise little ones in the bathroom - another drowning potential
6- if you're supervising pool activity be sure to know CPR
7- kids should have swimming lessons but not be considered water safe until they're 14
8-never swim alone in the ocean or fast moving rivers
9-put brightly colored floatation devices on kids when boating
10-never mix alcohol, kids and water