From www.GuiaInfantil.com
03/27/19
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When the heating season begins and families go to the pools or the beach, news about drowned people also happens. Unfortunately, every summer we know of several cases of children dying in pools or at sea. More than 50% of child deaths due to drowning occur in private swimming pools. In addition, 85% of these deaths could be avoided with proper fencing of swimming pools and teaching them to swim as soon as possible. We give you 10 tips so that children do not drown in pools.
10 tips to prevent children from drowning in pools
Did you know that a baby can drown in a pool that covers only 30 centimeters? To try to minimize these accidents, the National Association of Child Safety has developed a decalogue that all parents must take into account to enjoy a quiet summer in the family.
1. Continuous supervision
There is no substitute for adult supervision, so strict monitoring and permanent control are essential. You should "name" a person responsible for supervision or take turns, so as not to fall into the error of trusting that another is watching the children and, later, turn out not to be like that.
2. Standard 10/20
Every 10 seconds, the adult responsible for the surveillance should look at the pool to check if there are children in or around it and should be able to reach them in less than 20 seconds, or what is the same, should be able to reach the child with the arm. We must avoid any distraction, very common nowadays with the use of mobile phones and social networks.
3. Detect risks
Evaluate if the little one could arrive by himself at the pool in an oversight. For this, we can travel the road from home or the lawn to the pool as the child would.
4. Levels of protection
Depending on the risks detected and the characteristics of the house, security devices will be installed to prevent the child from reaching the pool, both from inside the house and from the outside (fences, closing doors ...).
5. Learning and education
Children should learn as soon as possible to float first and, to swim, afterward. Even with this apprenticeship, we can not forget that possible accidents such as falls and blows or even bad digestion can occur, which can shock the child, so it is still essential to take into account the 10/20 norm.
1. Continuous supervision
There is no substitute for adult supervision, so strict monitoring and permanent control are essential. You should "name" a person responsible for supervision or take turns, so as not to fall into the error of trusting that another is watching the children and, later, turn out not to be like that.
2. Standard 10/20
Every 10 seconds, the adult responsible for the surveillance should look at the pool to check if there are children in or around it and should be able to reach them in less than 20 seconds, or what is the same, should be able to reach the child with the arm. We must avoid any distraction, very common nowadays with the use of mobile phones and social networks.
3. Detect risks
Evaluate if the little one could arrive by himself at the pool in an oversight. For this, we can travel the road from home or the lawn to the pool as the child would.
4. Levels of protection
Depending on the risks detected and the characteristics of the house, security devices will be installed to prevent the child from reaching the pool, both from inside the house and from the outside (fences, closing doors ...).
5. Learning and education
Children should learn as soon as possible to float first and, to swim, afterward. Even with this apprenticeship, we can not forget that possible accidents such as falls and blows or even bad digestion can occur, which can shock the child, so it is still essential to take into account the 10/20 norm.
6. Rescue devices
Have basic rescue equipment on hand: lifeguard, pole and telephone.
7. Order
The best habit is to collect toys and other flotation elements that can be striking for the child and these should be kept away from the pool and its surroundings after use. In this way we prevent the child from trying to reach them.
8. Drains
The revision and maintenance of these elements, as well as the children's distance from the mechanical parts and the pool filters are the best preventive measures to avoid injuries or keep submerged by the suction without the possibility of surfacing. Adults should know how to disconnect these devices.
9. Security elements in compliance
All active safety elements (pool fences and covers) that avoid direct contact of the child with the water must comply with the AFNOR Standards. On the other hand, activate the elements of passive security (perimeter alarms and immersion alarms), which warn us when the child has already entered the water, so that the reaction time of the adult is shortened.
In any case, a retention and warning device must be available, since it is the best way to avoid drowning! If you need flotation elements, these should be vests (forget about floats and sleeves), always with the CE Marking and suitable for each child.
10. Emergencies
Adults and children should internalize the procedure in case of emergency by drowning: PAS (Protect, Alert and Relief), emergency telephone number of the city (1-1-2) and learn how to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.
Have basic rescue equipment on hand: lifeguard, pole and telephone.
7. Order
The best habit is to collect toys and other flotation elements that can be striking for the child and these should be kept away from the pool and its surroundings after use. In this way we prevent the child from trying to reach them.
8. Drains
The revision and maintenance of these elements, as well as the children's distance from the mechanical parts and the pool filters are the best preventive measures to avoid injuries or keep submerged by the suction without the possibility of surfacing. Adults should know how to disconnect these devices.
9. Security elements in compliance
All active safety elements (pool fences and covers) that avoid direct contact of the child with the water must comply with the AFNOR Standards. On the other hand, activate the elements of passive security (perimeter alarms and immersion alarms), which warn us when the child has already entered the water, so that the reaction time of the adult is shortened.
In any case, a retention and warning device must be available, since it is the best way to avoid drowning! If you need flotation elements, these should be vests (forget about floats and sleeves), always with the CE Marking and suitable for each child.
10. Emergencies
Adults and children should internalize the procedure in case of emergency by drowning: PAS (Protect, Alert and Relief), emergency telephone number of the city (1-1-2) and learn how to do Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation.