Nannies and Au Pairs: Residential Pool and Spa SafetyFor pool or spa owners, (and caregivers working in a home with a pool or spa), it is essential to adopt water safety steps to assure the safety of children in and around the water. By installing safety devices and observing proper water safety behaviors, parents and nannies can secure their pools and spas for use by their families, friends, and neighbors.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) favors multiple safety steps for swimming pools and spas, ranging from installing pool and spa fences, to ensuring children know how to swim. When combined, these safety strategies help ensure that both adults and children are amply protected in and around the water.
By asking and answering these critical questions, you can gauge the effectiveness of your water safety measures, and determine what steps need to be taken to protect children from drowning and submersion injuries:
- Is there a fence around the perimeter of the home pool or spa?
- Are there self-closing and self-latching gates?
- Are there door, gate, or pool alarms in use?
- Does the pool have anti-entrapment drain covers that are compliant with the P&SS Act?
- Are all pool and spa covers in working order?
- Has the public pool or spa you use been inspected to ensure it is compliant with federal, state and local laws?
- Has someone in the family or the nanny received training in CPR, first aid, and emergency response?
- Has everyone learned to swim?
Click here to learn about the Safety Turtle Child Immersion Wristband Alarm and Wireless Gate Alarm.
Tomorrow: Learn more about the young girl who inspired the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.
I have had to pull a child from a pool with water over his head. I firmly recommend that nannies receive either life guard training or basic water safety certification if they are going to spend anytime around water. This isn't just the pools, this is about boating (and being around oceans, lakes, rivers). There is a lot to be cautious about. Knowing what the signs of drowning area. Understand rain and currents. --- The bif thing the list above doesn't mention is are there life saving devices around the perimeters of the pool. This is something I have learned to look for even at public ones. But often at private home ones, they don't think to do this.
ReplyDeleteWe were at the pool and the toddler fell in and the mother I worked for jumped in after him with her clothes on. The lifegaurds didn't say "thank you" or ask how he was.
ReplyDeleteI can swim and was a lifegaurd years ago but still don't know if I am strong enough to save a child that is drowning. Good reminder to take a lifegaurd class again.
ReplyDeleteYes the 2 yr old walked right in like it was a sidewalk and I jumped in after her the lifegaurds didn't notice. I watch carefully not leaving it up to the lifegaurds only.
ReplyDeleteA pool is much more dangerous to a child than a gun. I remember a novice nanny telling me "oh we can go to the pool with the kids and relax." That's the most stressful time for me and when I work the hardest! It's no joke.
ReplyDeleteI saw a mom have to dive in after her child in her clothes too. The lifegaurds never left their chairs / lifegaurd stands!
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