Getting your pool area ready, designating supervisors, and establishing pool rules are some of the most important ways you can prepare for a fun, safe kids pool party (see Parts 1 & 2). In this article, we’ll focus on some of the ways you can avoid everyone’s most dreaded fear when it comes to water activities: drowning accidents. Listed below are several steps you can take to greatly reduce the risk of your celebration turning into a tragedy.
Find Out How Well Your Guests Can Swim
If you’re hosting a party, it’s a good idea to ask parents how well the kids attending the party can swim. Sometimes children exaggerate their own swimming ability when they’re asked about it in front of other kids, because they don’t want to be embarrassed or miss out on any fun activities.
Insist that Non-Swimmers Wear Life Jackets
If there are any non-swimmers in the group, insist on having them wear a life jacket that meets Coast Guard safety standards. It’s a good idea to have plenty of these on hand in various sizes, just in case you ever have guests over who don’t know how to swim. Cheap inflatables or water vests are unreliable and can give children and supervisors and kids a false sense of security in the water. Though it may sound like we’re being overly cautious, you’re better off safe than sorry, especially when you’re responsible for the safety of other people’s children. Make sure the parents know before the party that their children who do not swim will be required to wear these life jackets in the water.
Become Proficient in CPR
In the unlikely event that a drowning emergency does occur at your party in spite of all the precautions you’ve taken, you want to be prepared. If you or another adult perform CPR on a drowning child while paramedics are on the way, it could save the child’s life or keep them from suffering serious damage to their vital organs. CPR can greatly increase the chances of the medical team being able to resuscitate the child. So if you don’t already know CPR, sign up for a class at a local community center or college in your area so you can become CPR certified.
Refresh Your CPR Skills on a Regular Basis
Even if you’ve been CPR trained, remember that it’s important to review what you’ve learned on a regular basis in order to keep it fresh in your mind. If an emergency occurs and you’ve kept up with your CPR training, you’ll be more likely to remember the steps correctly in the heat of the moment.
Now that you’ve prepared the pool area, designated pool supervisors, explained the rules, assessed and made accommodations for swimmers of differing ability levels, and gotten CPR training, you’re all set. You can start getting ready for the fun part of the party, like planning food and games. When your little guests arrive, you’ll have the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’ve done your best to make sure everyone has a safe, enjoyable time.
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