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SWIMMING POOL
Safety Tips Summer is finally in full swing! After a seemingly endless winter, families are excited about taking the plunge into the good ol’ backyard pool. The start of the season, is a great time to reacquaint ourselves with pool safety. Please share the following tips with your family and friends in an effort to keep everyone safe this summer! Always have an adult who is a swimmer supervising the pool when children are using the pool. Always keep a phone near the pool in case of an emergency and a need to dial 911. When there is thunder, there is lightening. Should you hear thunder, immediately exit the pool area. All family members should learn CPR. Barriers, like four-sided pool and pond fences, should be used to help prevent young children from gaining access to the pool or pond areas without a caregiver or designated supervisor knowing. Ensure your pool, hot tub and whirlpool have antientrapment drain covers and a safety vacuum release system to automatically release suction and shut down the pump should entrapment occur. Covers should be certified by an accredited testing and certification organization. Tie back long hair and loose clothing. Powerful drains and pumps can easily catch long hair and loose clothing in the pool. The vacuum force from pool, hot tub and whirlpool drains are powerful enough to hold swimmers under water causing drowning, or can lead to significant injuries. Stay away from the drains. NEVER sit on a drain cover! Body parts such as fingers and toes near or 8
FA M I LY M AT T E R S
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SUMMER 2014
over drain covers are easy targets for entrapment due to suction which can render even the most adept swimmers helpless. Submersion in water for even just a minute can cause serious harm to swimmers. In addition, poorly-made, non-functioning, defective or broken drain covers must be replaced. Keep afloat. Not everyone can or knows how to swim. When someone cannot swim safely on their own, make sure that the appropriate life jacket, water wings and other safety flotation device is worn. Not all that is covered is safe. Soft pool covers can increase the risk of drowning if a child steps onto the cover, slips underneath it and becomes trapped. Children can also drown in water that has collected on top of pool covers. If you use a pool or spa cover, follow all instructions for their safe installation, use and maintenance. Always remove a cover completely before using the pool, and do not let standing water remain on top; pump it off.
845 Main St E, Milton, ON L9T 3Z3 (905) 878-7087 http://haltonpoolsnspas.com/