Avoid Drowning with Pool Safety
The Memorial Day Weekend marked the beginning of the Pool Safely: Simple Steps Save Lives campaign promoted by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and championed by the Becker Law Office.
“Drowning is still the leading cause of unintentional death with children younger than 5,” according to the CDC, and on average, more than 300 children drown in pools, spas, and bathtubs each year. The CDC reports that African-American and Hispanic children are at greater risk since those aged 5-14 are three times more likely to drown than white children of the same age.
8 Pool Safety Rules
We recommend following these safety standards when enjoying the water all summer long.
- Supervise all children
- Get swimming lessons for anyone who cannot swim
- Put up fencing around pools & spas, at least 4 ft. tall
- Add safety covers and cover locks to all pools and spas
- Affix pool drain covers to prevent hair or clothing from entrapment
- Set up alarms
- Get CPR training
- Teach children basic water safety tips
The CPSC recommends keeping a pool safety tool-kit:
- First aid kit
- Scissors to cut hair or clothing
- Charged portable phone to call 911
- Flotation device
If you are going to be around the water, it is essential that you and your children learn how to swim and have basic life-saving knowledge. The American Red Cross branches in both Louisville and Lexington offer swimming lessons and basic water safety in addition to First Aid classes and CPR. You’ll find contact information for both facilities at the end of this article.
Louisville Metro and Lexington-Fayette Urban County governments also provide swimming lessons for ages 6 months through adulthood at their city pools.
In Louisville, weekday and Saturday swimming lessons are available at Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center in Crescent Hill. Contact information is provided below.
Lexington Parks & Recreation offers four sessions of swimming lessons beginning June 4 and lasting two weeks each session. Lessons are offered at five different community pools in the Lexington area. Information on where to register is listed below.
As you and your loved ones enjoy the water, the Becker Law Office encourages you to follow the Pool Safely recommendations and urges a common sense approach to water safety. Enjoy!
For additional information, please go to:
- Pool Safely: www.PoolSafely.gov (@PoolSafely on Twitter)
In the Louisville area:
- Louisville Red Cross: www.louisville-redcross.org (502-589-4450)
- Swimming lessons and CPR training at Mary T. Meagher Aquatic Center: www.metro-park.org (502-897-9949)
In the Lexington area:
- Lexington Red Cross: www.redcross.org (859-253-1331)
- Lexington Parks & Recreation: www.lexingtonky.gov/departments/parks-recreation
