Pool Safety Tips for Parents

Are Pool Toys Safe?
Make sure swimming pool toys are age-appropriate; do not redesign pool toys to accommodate small children. Check pool toys for damage and wear before each use. Drowning is a parent's first concern, but children can also suffer cuts and bruises, and are at risk of choking and suffocation while at play in the pool.

Pool toy labeling and packaging indicate age restrictions, instructions for use, and injury warnings. Avoid swimming pool toys with sharp edges that can cut and small parts that can cause choking. Check for tightly constructed seams, punctures, and leaking seals and plugs; a water toy that deflates in the pool can suffocate small children. Beads used to weight some pool toys can escape through holes and become a choking hazard.

Swimming Pool Safety
Pool floats are not approved for lifesaving; children who are in or around the swimming pool should be carefully supervised by an adult who scans the entire pool for hazards within 10 seconds and who is close enough to reach the water in 20 seconds. It's a good idea for pool owners with children to have CPR training; this is a one-day safety class. Patrolling the pool may take more than one adult if there is a party that congests the pool area and several children are present.