Splash some safety round the swimming pool
Ask any child what their favourite holiday memory is, and it is almost always the time they spent with their family or friends in the swimming pool!
Swimming can offer hours of entertainment, fitness and fun for both young and old, and it is one of the major sources of happy holiday memories where children are concerned. However, whether you are splashing in the pool, swimming in a lake or snorkelling in the sea, water can be dangerous and the risk of drowning is a constant threat.
It is possible for a child to drown in less than two minutes in as little as 5cm of water. Children in Qatar have drowned in swimming pools and in the sea. Tragically, drowning is a leading cause of death and injury to children in the country, with the fatality toll rising each year. So here are some essential swimming safety tips to keep the little ones in your life out of harm’s way.
Quick statistics for Qatar
- Drowning is a leading cause of death and serious disability in children in Qatar.
- 90% of cases involve children aged 10 years or under.
- 70% of those are younger than four years old.
- A child can drown in less than two minutes in as little as 5cm of water in absolute silence.
- 80% of children drown when no-one is watching them.
- 70% of swimming pool children drowning cases can be prevented by using proper fencing.
PC: Philippe Lewicki
Swimming pool safety
- Firstly, preparation is key, and to achieve this, swimming lessons are a must. Try to enroll children in swimming lessons at an early age, and if you haven’t, remember—it is never too late for a young person to learn how to swim. Teach children how to tread water and float unaided to give them confidence in the water.
- Teach them responsible pool play and make sure they enter the pool feet-first. Many serious injuries, including paralysis, happen when kids dive head first into deceptive, shallow pool water and strike the bottom.
- Try to remove toys from the pool when it is not in use because they can attract young children back into the water.
- If you do have a pool, a barrier of any kind is essential. This could be a safety net, a hard pool cover, or a fence. If you do fence it, make it at least 1.5 metres high and and use self-closing or self-latching gates that open away from it. If you’re renting a villa then choose one where the swimming pool has some kind of safety barrier.
- Most importantly, it is absolutely crucial to have an adult supervise children in the pool. Take turns keeping watch if necessary.
So, when you are thinking about booking a family friendly holiday, visiting a friend’s pool, or using your own, do give considerable thought to pool safety.
Swim safely and swim sensibly!
Cover image by Lynne
Statistics source: Hamad hospital
