As warmer weather and swim season approaches here are some essential safety tips for those of you that will be enjoying the pool this summer with your friends and family.

Pool Safety

• Never allow a child near water unsupervised, even if they can swim. Drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for children ages 1-4. Just 4 - 6 minutes underwater is enough to cause irreversible brain damage.
• If your child is in the water, you should be in the water with them.
• Young children or inexperienced swimmers should always wear a Coast Guard-certified jacket around water.
• Devices and barricades aren’t a substitute for an adult with a watchful eye.
• Portable pools require security measures like their permanent in-ground and above-ground counterparts. Portable pools account for 10% of drowning fatalities of children under 15.
• Follow all posted safety rules and warnings.
• Never swim alone.
• Pool toys and floats are not safety devices.
• Enter the water feet first.
• Use an approved safety cover and keep the pool covered when not in use. 
• Install a fence around your pool and lock it.
• Consider installing a water surface tension alarm. 
• Inspect pool drains and drain covers. Pool and spa drains can create underwater suction with enough force to trap even strong swimmers underwater.
• Learn CPR and always have someone on site that knows CPR when children are swimming.
• Keep pool chemicals locked up and away from children. Pool chemicals should be kept separate from other household cleaners to avoid the potential for chemical reactions that may cause combustion.

Using Pool Chemicals Safely

• Ask for help if you are NOT trained for specific tasks.
• Read the chemicals' entire product labels and MSDSs before each use.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment (i.e., safety goggles, gloves and mask).
• Handle chemicals in a well-ventilated area.
• Open one product at a time and close it before opening another.
• Keep dust, fumes and splashes to a minimum.
• Measure carefully.
• Never mix chlorine products with acid; this can create toxic gases.
• Never mix different pool chemicals (i.e., different types of chlorine products) with each other or with any other substance.
• Only pre-dissolve pool chemicals when directed by the product label.
• If the product label directs pre-dissolving, add pool chemical to water; never add water to pool chemical because a violent, potentially explosive reaction can occur.

Storing Pool Chemicals Safely

BEFORE YOU STORE POOL CHEMICALS: 

• Get trained in pool chemical safety (i.e., during an operator training course).
• Ask for help if you are NOT trained for specific tasks.
• Read the entire product label or MSDS before storing.
• Learn your pool’s Emergency Chemical Spill Response Plan and practice steps (i.e., evacuation).

STORING POOL CHEMICALS SAFELY: 

• Follow product label directions for chemical storage.
• Wearing appropriate safety equipment (i.e., safety goggles, gloves and mask).
• Separate incompatible chemicals (for example: acid and chlorine).
• Lock chemicals up to protect people and animals.
• Keep chemicals dry and do not mix different chemicals (i.e., different types of chlorine products).
• Keep chemicals cool in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight.
• Keep chemicals closed in original, labeled container.
• Store liquid chemicals low to prevent accidental contact (i.e., by leaking) with chemicals or substances stored below them.

DISPOSAL OF POOL CHEMICAL CONTAINERS: 

• Follow product label directions for safe disposal.
• DO NOT reuse containers.
• Contact your local or state hazardous materials agency for proper disposal procedures for pool chemicals in unlabeled containers.

Do you have any pool safety tips that we should add? Let us know in the comments! 

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