The pool is always a potential hazard. Every September is Baby Safety Month 2020, which is a good reminder to keep our little ones top of mind. In today’s post, let’s review some of the tips we’ve shared in the past that can help parents and caregivers to keep babies out of harm’s way.
What is Baby Safety Month 2020?
When it comes to a baby’s health, it can be tough to remember all of the ways that they can get into trouble. Whether you’re expecting or already home with a baby, it’s important to stay vigilant. Since 1983, Baby Safety Month has been a great time for retailers to help reacquaint themselves with the safety standards of popular products made for babies.
In this way, retailers can educate the public about the importance of considering safety when purchasing baby products, as well as how to efficiently baby-proof their homes. These efforts certainly extend to safety in the pool area. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, drowning is responsible for more deaths among children aged one to four than any other cause, aside from congenital anomalies (birth defects).
This month isn’t meant to be a lesson in parenting. Even the most dedicated parent or caregiver cannot prevent all accidents. Accidents can always happen. With that in mind, it’s good to remember that kids of all ages, even babies, need special attention when it comes to water safety.
Kiddie Pools
During the pandemic, many families have been turning to kiddie pools to help their little ones cool off. That’s great, and these small tubs can be a lot of fun. That said, they can also be a drowning hazard, especially for very small children.
For Baby Safety Month, it’s crucial to remember just how quickly drowning can happen. It doesn’t even take a lot of water for someone to drown. In fact, if there’s enough liquid to cover the nose and mouth, that’s enough to pose a drowning hazard.
To boot, babies don’t have proper control of their limbs or even their heads yet. So when it comes to bringing a baby into the water, active supervision is critical. Parents and caregivers cannot allow their attention to wander for even a moment.
An adult should always be in the water with the child, especially babies. In the case of kiddie pools, you can sit outside the water, but always stay within arms reach of the playing baby. Most of all, don’t bring a phone or allow yourself to be distracted by your surrounding environment, including a conversation.
For those looking for more detailed information, we’ve written a full post about the surprising hidden dangers of kiddie pools.
CPR is a Crucial Lifesaving Skill
Active supervision is great for preventing accidents, but if the worst does happen, it’s time for CPR. For Baby Safety Month and beyond, the importance of CPR cannot be understated. A quick-thinking person can prevent a tragedy if they are properly trained in this life-saving skill.
To learn more about baby CPR training, the official website of the American Red Cross can direct you to a training program in your area.
Keep the Pool Area Locked and Alarmed
Baby Safety Month 2020 is in September, which is is also when a lot of people are closing their pool for the colder months. One of the most important baby and childproofing tips is to make sure the pool area is inaccessible when it is not in use. Kids of all ages love to be curious. If your baby is crawling or totting around, there is a risk that she can get outside into the pool area.
Therefore, the key to pool safety is maintaining layers of protection. The first line of defense should be a properly installed pool fence. It should be strong and high enough to prevent children and animals from climbing over it. Additionally, this pool fence should be securely locked.
In terms of the house, any doors or windows that lead to the pool area should be secured. For additional safety, install alarms on the windows and doors to alert you if someone gets outside. Pool immersion alarms can also help to warn if a child has fallen into the water.
