Here are some easy-to-follow tips to make sure that you and your loved ones can enjoy water safely, in and around home:
- Always supervise bath time (never leave your children unattended)
- Empty the bath as soon as possible after use
- Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning
- Keep doors to bathrooms and utility rooms closed
- Vulnerable adults and people who suffer from sudden seizures should consider using showers rather than baths
- Never leave your child unattended around water. REMEMBER - babies can drown in as little as 2cm of water
- Watch children when they are in or around water, without being distracted!
- Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult
- Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains
- Empty paddling pools, containers, buckets and watering cans, as soon as they have been used
- Always turn paddling pools and containers upside down once empty, so they do not collect water
- Securely cover all hot tubs and home spas as soon as possible after use
- Make sure older children are accompanied every time when they swim or use hot tubs
- Always install self-closing and self-latching gates, fences of at least four feet tall surrounding all sides of any pool, and locks to prevent children from gaining access to home pools or pools of water
- Install secure fencing around garden ponds (at least four feet high) to act as a barrier or add mesh or a grill on top of the pond (strong enough to support a child’s weight without dropping below the surface of the pond water)
- Always turn hosepipes off at the tap, so children cannot fill vessels themselves
- Children and weak swimmers should always be closely supervised by an adult
- Weak swimmers should stay within the pool’s recommended safety depths
- Never swim alone
- Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools
- Control access to the pool by using suitable fencing, secure doors and gates, and pool or gate alarms, to monitor access to swimming pools where possible
- Never supervise children or enter the water yourself after drinking alcohol
- Have easy access to suitable rescue aids such as a torpedo buoy, rope or reach pole
- Always follow pool manufacturers advice for maintenance and safety checks
- Know what to do in an emergency: learn first aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation) Book your first aid class today
Royal Life Saving Society UK: www.rlss.org.uk/water-safety-at-home