The Dos and Don'ts of Owning a Kiddie Pool

Every year, nearly 300 children under the age of five drown in swimming pools, making it the leading cause of accidental death for children in that age range. And 87 percent of those fatalities occur in backyard inflatable kiddie pools. In addition to drowning fatalities, more than 4,000 kids under five suffer non-fatal drowning injuries. An inflatable kiddie pool can be a lot of fun, and is often the center of lively outdoor play. But even it’s a small pool, it doesn’t mean it’s free from dangers. In fact, even the best inflatable pools should be treated as any pool: a major safety hazard. Here are some tips for keeping your family safe if you have a plastic inflatable kiddie pool.

 

 

1. Install Pool Barriers.

One of the best ways to reduce the risk of a child drowning in your pool or hot tub is to construct and maintain barriers such as pool safety fences, pool gates, power safety covers and alarms. A good barrier should prevent a child from going over, under and through the barrier to access the pool unsupervised.

 

 

2. Supervise Children Closely.

One of the most important pool safety guidelines is never leave a child unattended around your pool or hot tub. Stay within arm’s reach of young children and non-swimmers. Even when you’re not out by the pool, if a child is missing, look for the child in the pool first, including neighbors’ pools. When it comes to preventing drowning, every second counts.

 

 

3. Install Anti-entrapment Safety Drain Covers.

Make sure your pool has anti-entrapment safety drain covers. The powerful suction from some drains can easily trap children, or even adults. Keep children away from pool drains, pipes and other openings to avoid entrapment accidents.

 

 

4. Don’t Drink the Kiddie Pool Water.

Discourage children from drinking pool water from funny inflatable kiddie pools or from any pool. After all, we know from a 2009 Water Quality & Health Council survey that approximately one in five adults admit to having peed in the pool–a habit that might have started in the kiddie pool. Distracting young children with a “sippy cup” of a favorite beverage may help, but don’t be surprised if the beverage ends up poured over somebody’s head!

 

 

5. Remove Daily Debris

It's important to get rid of debris that builds up in your pool on a daily basis. This can help to prevent your filter from becoming clogged. The debris you can expect to find on the water's surface include leaves, insects, and other objects that fall into the pool.

 

 

6. Don’t Neglect Chlorine.

While there are chlorine alternatives in the market, none are as effective or inexpensive as the real thing when it comes to killing bacteria to keep us safe. the chemical works by destroying enzymes, structures, and processes of potentially nasty microorganisms. but you do have options when it comes to how you chlorinate. Do a little research to decide if you had prefer tabs or liquid, and whether you want an all-in- one option that includes algaecide or you’d rather handle the green gunk separately.

 

The swimming pool is a favorite place for children, especially when it is filled with various inflatable pool toys, such as inflatable toy animals, inflatable toy balls, inflatable lifebuoy toys, inflatable toy boats, etc. They can play in it for a long time. However, we must ensure the safety of children while having fun, so please pay attention to the safety of your kiddie pool.