As the summer warms up, thousands of children will be enjoying pool parties at friends’ houses. What should be foremost in parents’ minds is the level of safety provided at these parties. It has taken several high-profile drownings at private pools in the last few years for parents to begin to act with the necessary care and deliberation to keep their children safe. As a lifeguard, I would like to pass on some advice that can make pool parties safer and more fun for everyone involved.
A certified lifeguard should be overseeing any pool event involving children under the age of sixteen. If the pool is larger or deeper than the average home pool (six feet), a lifeguard should be present regardless of the age of the participants. There should be no more than twenty-five people for each lifeguard to watch, but this ratio can be left up to the discretion of the lifeguard.
If hiring a certified lifeguard is not possible for your party, agree on an oversight system with the other adults at the party. Create a rotation in which at least one person is dedicated to watching the pool at all times when people are in the water. The person watching the pool should be completely sober, and should not be distracted by conversation or any other duties while watching the pool. Ten seconds of distraction can be the difference between a serious emergency and a simple reaching rescue in which the child can immediately return to play.
If you anticipate young children at your party, consider installing a light fence around your pool area. This ensures that a small child cannot run into the pool accidentally, and allows the lifeguards to control the crowd in the area. If you are guarding your own pool, a fence is indispensable. It allows you to pronounce the pool temporarily closed during eating times or when you need a break.
You or the lifeguards should set specific rules regarding behavior and the use of equipment around the pool. This is a list of rules I routinely use, with the justifications for them:
1. No running in the pool area – slips and falls are the most common injury around a pool.
2. Jumping is only allowed in the section that is more than four feet deep – avoid jammed toes and hurt legs.
3. Diving is only allowed in the section that is at least nine feet deep – avoid head, neck and back injuries.
4. If you need to use a restroom, grab a towel and go to the nearest restroom (point it out). Do not ever pee or poop in the pool – you have no idea how common this is.
5. No rough housing, holding people under the water, or breath-holding contests – avoid accidental drowning caused by unsafe play.
6. Children muss pass a swim test before being allowed to swim in the deep end – this will save you a lot of stress and help you manage the crowd.
Try to state all rules in the positive – “this is what you should do”, not “this is what you cannot do”. Stating expectations and rules in the positive form creates a higher likelihood of obedience because the children understand a clear expectation, and it keeps the tone light and fun for a party.
There are a couple of specific situations to look out for. If there are large floating toys in the water, keep a close eye around and under them for struggling swimmers who could get stuck underneath. If you cannot see under a toy, it should not be in the pool. Also, watch for anyone who seems a likely candidate for diving in the shallow end. This is by far the most common cause of spinal injuries around a pool, and is usually a teenage boy (see the American Red Cross records for proof of this).
Have at least one adult present at the party who is trained in first aid and CPR for the age of the children at the party (child CPR is slightly different from adult CPR). I recommend that all parents be trained in these basic lifesaving skills, since children are guaranteed to choke and get a cut at least once during their childhood. Also, keep a first aid kit stocked with roller gauze in addition to the normal band-aids and ointments.
Bees and other insects are frequently attracted to pools, as you may have noticed if you own one. Consider using citronella candles to keep bugs at a distance. Find out from parents if any of the children attending the party are allergic to bees, and ask them what steps you should take if their child is stung. Some people keep an epinephrine pen on hand (prescribed by a doctor) in case they are stung, so that they will be able to breathe until EMS arrives. You may need to help them administer this, so find out how. If you think someone is having an allergic reaction, call 911 immediately.
Most accidents can be avoided with a little care. If you take the precautions suggested here, you will probably never encounter an emergency at your pool party. You can save yourself stress and worry by setting guidelines and enlisting the help of other adults. That is why planning to minimize risks is so important to making your pool party fun for all the people involved.
