When it comes to water safety, we’ve talked about pools, boats, hot tubs, even kiddie pools… you name it! If it can hold water, the Life Saver Pool Fence Safety Blog is on the case! Which brings us to splash pad safety.
What’s a Splash Pad?
Some of you may not know what a splash pad is, so we’ll start at the basics. First, chances are very good that you’ve seen or used a splash pad before. Sometimes called a spray pool, splash pads are a recreation area with water-spraying nozzles. You often find them at public parks or amusement parks. Typically, they hold little to no standing water. These are generally designed for children who are 12 years of age and younger, but larger splash pads can easily accommodate parents too!
Here’s an example of a splash pad or spray park at an amusement park:
There are also much smaller versions available for home use:
As you can see, there are plenty of differences between these two “attractions,” but the splash pad safety concerns are the same.
Understanding Splash Pad Safety
Now let’s talk splash pad safety. Since these pads often feature little or no standing water, drowning danger is much less of a concern than with pools. That’s not to say that drowning isn’t a possibility. Remember, for young children, drowning can occur in as little as two inches of water.
That said, slips and falls from splash pads are nothing to ignore. As you can imagine, running can be very dangerous when the ground is wet. The rules for pool safety work just as well here. Don’t run! That can lead to little ones losing control and taking a tumble. This can result in painful scrapes or even greater injuries.
According to the Consumer Products Safety Commission, in 2014 there were some 20,000 injuries on pool decks, splash pads, or water parks resulting in an emergency room visit. In parks, several splash pads have been closed due to injuries over the years. It always pays for both kids and parents to stay vigilant. That’s especially true when water is involved. Running and rough-housing can lead to trouble when water is involved.
Don’t Drink the Water
Next, treat splash pad safety the same way you’d treat a community pool. Make absolutely sure that the water is clean before jumping in. Parasites, like crypto, could be lurking in untreated water. Make sure your kids don’t drink the water and be sure to maintain social distancing rules. Those nozzles may look inviting, but who knows how dirty they may be. Instead, be sure to bring plenty of bottled water for your kids to drink. Kids need a lot of liquid on a hot day. A refreshing sip of safe water will keep them hydrated.
Active Supervision Wins the Day
Finally, this last warning should come as no surprise to our regular readers. No child should be near the water without active supervision. A careful, undistracted adult can prevent tragedy simply by keeping an eye on frolicking little ones. That’s important for pools, oceans and splash pad safety. To learn more, read our full article about active supervision.
