Hastings & Hastings Summer Safety Tips (Part Two)

Welcome back to the Hastings & Hastings blog! This month we are touching on a number of important summer safety concerns. In our last post, we talked about the dangers of dehydrations. Dehydration is very dangerous for a number of reasons. First, your body can be dehydrated ever before it presents symptoms. Second, the symptoms of dehydration can easily be confused with the symptoms of other conditions leading to a misunderstanding of the condition. Third, dehydration can lead to death. It can strike very quickly for infants, children, and older adults.

Today, we are going to touch on a summer safety concern that is closely linked to having fun – pool safety. Phoenix has more pools per-capita than any other city in the nation. While jumping in the pool is a great way to beat the heat, it can also be dangerous. Each year, kids and adults die from drowning.

2. Pool Safety

When discussing pool safety, the topic is typically broken down into three major categories. Access to pools should be blocked. People should be watched at all times. And everyone should learn lifesaving techniques and what to do in an emergency.

Block: All pool should have a fence around them. Home pools are no exception, even if there are no children in the home. A fence should be 4-feet high at a minimum. It should enclose the pool on all four sides. Pool gates should be self-closing and self latching. It is important to avoid treating a pool fence as infallible. Always keep a watch!

Watch: Children should be supervised at all times when in or near a pool. Close supervision has been shown to be the most dependable way to prevent drowning. Children can drown in a matter of seconds. Turning your back for even a moment can be deadly. Adults should also swim with a buddy whenever possible.

Learn: Learning is an essential element of pool safety and drowning prevention. It is recommended that children be taught to swim as early as possible. Children can be enrolled in swimming classes in their first year of age. Teach them the dangers of being around the pool. Adults should learn lifesaving techniques like CPR and mouth-to-mouth. Children and adults should be educated in emergency protocol. It is important to call 911 as quickly as possible if you believe a drowning has taken place.