The Hidden Pool Danger Your Kids Need To Know About

Summer is almost here and we are all so excited to be spending more time poolside. My kids are like little fish and love spending every minute they can splashing in the water.

In all honesty, I get a little nervous when they go swimming; pools can be so dangerous. I have two basic rules for them at the age they are right now (4 & 7) and that is to stay close by me and no running.

I felt like I had a pretty good grasp of safety concerns at the pool and how to keep my kids having fun at the same time. But recently I heard about a hidden danger at pools that I had never put any thought into. I feel like I had heard it mentioned once or twice but it was never really brought to my attention as a real threat.

Pool Drains

There have been heartbreaking tragedies ending in death because of these old pool drains.

Why? Because they are trapping kids.

When a body part is pushed up against these drains it acts like a vacuum with hundreds of pounds of pressure, making it impossible to move. The other problem is that it grabs you by the hair and doesn’t let it. It is so scary.

So how do keep our kids safe?

Luckily there are new, safe, anti-entrapment drains that are being installed. Hopefully your local pool has them, but to be sure, you need to check or ask the manager. If you swim in hotel pools or backyard pools, check before you get in. If it looks like a flat drain cover, don’t use that pool.

Check out this video from The ZAC Foundation, they have great examples of what these safe pool drain looks like.

More Water Safety

Follow the A, B, C, D’s of water safety:

• A is for Adult
• B is for Barrier
• C is for Classes
• D is for Drains

 

Visit The ZAC Foundation here for more information to include in your post about how to keep children safe around water.