Swimming Pool Safety

[SarahMayF]

Hi all! I'm off on holiday in a couple of weeks time - cannot wait to escape British autumn and get myself to a beach!

Anyway we're staying at this resort which has its own outdoor swimming pool, but I'm getting worried about my youngest around it, as he has a really bad tendency to run off. I know the straightforward answer is to watch him at all times but I'm sure you guys know it's not always that easy, especially when you have others to look after!

Do you think I should try and sit him down and talk to him about it? He's only five and he's been swimming with school but obviously that's really supervised and in a leisure centre, this is outside in Portugal.

Any help on keeping him safe would be great =)

the straightforward answer is to watch him at all times but I'm sure you guys know it's not always that easy
It's not easy but it is that simple. Non swimmers around water= 100% vigilance from accompanying adults. Who are the others you mention?

set some rules, yes. He's old enough for that.

also put some armbands or a floatcoat on him when near the pool. That means if he does fall in he won't sink and so he will be spotted. Won't keep him face up but keeps him visible.

ps assuming you aren't the only adult - one of you is ALWAYS watching the kids in the water. And that means watching. Phone off, book closed, earphones out. Watching.

specialsubject talks sense.
Buoyancy aids are a good backup, not substitute for your attention; don't even take a book or music and earphones if you're the only supervising adult. If he's a non swimmer you need to be within grabbing distance- not watching from the lounger.
And if he's a runner tell him you'll have to leave if he bolts and follow up on it.

Thanks a lot guys. The others are my other sons, 8 and 9, they're both pretty good swimmers.

I was thinking about the armbands, the problem with watching is that it's easy to look away or be distracted by a DS even if you don't have a book or music in or whatever. A no-tolerance rule for running off seems like a good idea too.

I just found this article that talks about secondary drowning (www.paramountpools.co.uk/news/water-safety-for-kids/) and other ways things can go horribly wrong, and now I'm panicking a bit haha.

the secondary drowning thing is basically a warning that anyone who has had a 'near miss' in water (unconscious for a short time, inhaled water) must go to hospital for observation even if they seem perfectly fine.

you'll be on duty the whole time during pool sessions - easiest to be in the water with them. I know it isn't restful, but family holidays never are. Perhaps there is a kids club you can book them into to give you a bit of a break?