Pool safety

• Never leave children alone in or near the pool, even for a moment.
• Install a fence at least four feet high around all four sides of the pool. 
• The fence should not have openings or protrusions that a young child could use to get over, under or through the fence. 
• Make sure pool gates open out from the pool, and self-close and self-latch at a height children can't reach. 
• Keep rescue equipment (a shepherd's hook - a long pole with a hook on the end - and life preserver) and a portable telephone near the pool. 
• Avoid inflatable swimming aids such as floaties. They are not a substitute for approved life vests and can give children a false sense of security. 
• Children may not be developmentally ready for swim lessons until after their 4th birthday. Swim programs for children younger than 4 do not decrease the risk of drowning. 
• Whenever infants or toddlers are in or around water, an adult should be within arm's length, providing touch supervision. 
• Remove all toys from the pool so children aren't tempted to reach for them.
• Knowing how to swim does not mean your child is safe in water.