Taking your kids swimming is an excellent way to bond and spend time with them. Having fun in the water during the summer is a perfect way to beat the heat and have fun. Always supervise your kids when they are in or around the pool to prevent any drowning incidents.
Childproofing Your Swimming Pool
Make sure your home pool has a permanent fence, so your kids don’t get into the pool without your knowledge. Having an unfenced pool can be pretty risky, especially if it is at your home. Your child can easily drown if they are not supervised while swimming.
2. Don’t let your child in the water if he has an open wound
Your child should not get into the pool if they have an open wound. This can easily act as a bacterial entry point. If the wound is draining, other children can easily be infected. If your child gets infected by water-borne diseases, contact the nearest urologist. Always carry your phone with you so it is easy to reach the best urologist nearby. Some of the Recreational Water Illnesses your child can contact include diarrhea, pink eye, molluscum contagiosum, hepatitis A, and Naegleria.
3. Apply Sunscreen to Prevent Sunburn
Always apply sunblock for your child so they don’t get sunburned. The correct way is to apply it 15-30 minutes before they go into the water. You should redo the application two hours later, especially if they spent most of the time in the water.
4. Keep your child out of the water if he has a Contagious Infection
In case your child has a contagious illness, it is not advisable to allow them to get into the water, especially if the disease is water-borne, as other kids can easily be infected. Some examples of these contagious diseases include diarrhea, pink eye, and hepatitis A. Also, sharing towels might spread an illness as your family gets bigger. Hence, ensure you buy each child a beach towel. A contagious illness is more manageable when fewer people get infected.
5. Only let kids dive in areas that are marked for diving
Besides taking your child for swimming lessons and ensuring they have life jackets each time you go out swimming, you should ensure your child follows the diving rules. Make sure your child is diving in the area marked for diving. Also, check out the depth and see if it is safe for your child.
Conclusion
It is essential to take all precautionary measures each time you are with your children at the swimming pool. Whether it is your pool or a community pool, ensure it is childproof. Your child can easily contract water-borne diseases if all the safety precautions are not taken. The swimming pool should be visible; if not, the pool should be closed until the issue is rectified.
