If you are lucky enough to have your own pool, you are probably very popular with all your friends! A pool is a great place to gather all summer long, and pool parties are a perfect way to celebrate birthdays and holidays. But a pool party comes with a unique set of safety considerations. Make sure to add these into your party planning.
Make Your Pool Safe Inviting people into your house and your pool calls for a good once-over check to make sure there are no safety hazards. Check for anything that might cause an injury such as chipped tile or sharp metal. Set up a rescue station with a long pole and a throw line made from a milk jug tied to the end of a rope. Use a buoy line to mark off the deep end of the pool. If you have a diving board or slide, make sure it is secure and safe before your guests arrive.
Hire a Lifeguard
The best safety tip for any private pool party is to hire a professional lifeguard. Yes, there will be adults at the party, but they will be helping you put out food or chatting amongst themselves. Who wants to be completely responsible for a pool full of kids? This is also a great option for an adult party at which alcohol will be served. A private lifeguard will not only keep an eye on everyone, but they are also CPR and First Aid certified should the worst happen. A good rule of thumb is one lifeguard for every 15 people that will be swimming. Or, you could hire two guards and look into the possibility of having one of them get in and play with the kids while the other one guards the pool.
Establish the Pool Rules
While you may be relaxed with just you and your family, inviting people into your home requires a bit more formalization of the pool rules. Some things you are going to have to customize to your home and pet peeves, such as no food in the pool area or an age limit for the hot-tub. Others are pretty universal for safety. Suggestions: No Running, No Diving (unless your pool is at least 9ft deep), No Pushing or Dunking (could put non-swimmers into dangerous situations). To prepare your guests, you could send a small card with pool rules along with the party invitation, or post them on a whiteboard at the party.
Good and Bad Pool Toys Public pools generally ban certain toys from the facility either because they are dangerous, or because they make it difficult to properly supervise everyone. You may want to consider leaving these out of your party plans. Blow-up arm floaties don’t do a good job of keeping the mouth above water, and can also deflate and slip. Inflatable animals and rafts make it difficult to see if someone is under the water. Substitute them for noodles. Beach balls and dive rings also make good pool toys. If you have non-swimmers attending, offer them life jackets for extra safety and mobility. Squirt toys are also fun, but you may need to institute a “no squirting water at the cake table” rule!
Food and the Pool
Speaking of the cake…
Children (and adults) tend to over-indulge at parties. While it is not true that you will drown if you don’t wait an hour after eating, doing any physical activity on a full stomach can cause cramps. Too much food when added to water might also lead to vomiting, never a fun party activity. Set the menu carefully, and watch everyone’s intake to ensure no food-related mishaps. Don’t allow any eating while swimming, as this could be a choking hazard. Plan the timing of the party so everyone gets out of the pool to eat, and then have a half-hour of non-swimming activity such as present opening to allow everyone’s stomach to settle before getting back in the pool.
Sources:
Personal Experience
Red Cross Water Safety Handbook
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Still Unemployed? Train to Be A Lifeguard!
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Swim Lessons Reduce the Risk of Drowning in Children
