Your Backyard Pool: Tips for Your Babysitter
Having a backyard pool is more than a luxury; it’s an excellent way for the entire family to maintain and build overall fitness, have fun in the sun, learn necessary water safety skills, and, of course, practice those tremendous swimming skills learned with Steve Wallen Swim School.
Your backyard pool and hot tub represent your commitment to a fantastic lifestyle, and you also recognize the responsibility that comes with having open water so close to home. It’s imperative to have all the required safety features in place; many safety requirements are dictated by your local authorities, including city bylaws. These safety features are critical to protecting others from accidental drowning.
However, your responsibility continues once these physical and other types of securities are in place. Therefore, constant, vigilant attention is needed when using the pool. Similarly, you must ensure that the safety devices, such as locking gates and pool covers, are installed and used correctly.
Babysitters and Safety
But what about when you are not in charge? Babysitters play a considerable role in many families’ lives, so it’s crucial that you provide your babysitter with the tools they need to be safe and successful when caring for your little ones. For example, they likely know to keep the pot handles turned inward on the stove and not to leave children unattended when they are in the bathtub.
Similarly, your babysitter knows to keep prescription drugs and other potential hazards well away from curious little hands. But does your babysitter also know how to ensure your children’s safety regarding the backyard pool or hot tub? Here are some excellent tips to share and teach to your babysitter!
Babysitters and Pools
First, determine your babysitter’s comfort level around pools and hot tubs. Then, ask them if they are themselves competent swimmers. Perhaps they have even taken aquatic life-saving training! If your babysitter is a non-swimmer, making the pool off-limits when they are in charge may be best.
Second, ensure your babysitter has taken first aid training and knows how to do CPR. CPR is critical, and babysitters must know how to perform CPR for all ages. Third, you must be clear with your babysitter; they must have a phone with them for emergencies, but they must not text or scroll while near water. Finally, their attention must be on your children at all times.
When the children use the pool, the babysitter must always remain at the poolside. Vigilant supervision is needed to help prevent the unimaginable tragedy of accidental drowning. For example, if there is any reason to leave the poolside for a bathroom break or to get a snack, all children must leave the pool and accompany the babysitter wherever they go.
Pool toys are simply toys, not life jackets. Know that if a child is floating on or with a toy, the absence of that toy could lead to drowning. Therefore, your babysitter should always be within arm’s reach of any small children or non-swimmers. Lifejackets are strongly recommended if there is more than one non-swimming child in your babysitter’s care.
When pool time is over, ensure that all children have exited the pool and engage all safety devices such as locking gates, securing pool covers, setting pool alarms, and all other safety measures.
Plan for Success
Educating and training your babysitter can better prepare them to keep your children safe, set them up for success, and protect everyone! In addition, including swimming lessons in your recreational time will also increase your enjoyment of your backyard pool, so join us at Steve Wallen Swim School in El Dorado Hills and Roseville!
