WATER SAFETY AT HOME

The summer is  great time to enjoy the garden and as the temperature rises people will inevitably spend more time in their homes and gardens, enjoying paddling pools, hot tubs and residential swimming pools.

Did you know that a child can drown in as little as 2cm of water?

Around 402 people drown in the UK and Ireland every year and many more suffer injury, some life-changing, through non-fatal experiences. More people die from drowning in the UK and Ireland than from domestic fires or cycling accidents.

Drownings around the home are easily preventable so we’ve created these easy-to-follow tips to make sure that you and your loved ones can enjoy water safely, at home.

Guide to water safety at home

In the garden

• Never leave your child unattended around water. Children can drown in as little as 2cm of water
• Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted 
• Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult 
• Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains
• Empty paddling pools, containers, buckets and watering cans, as soon as they have been used
• Always turn paddling pools and containers upside down once empty, so they do not collect water
• Securely cover all hot tubs and home spas as soon as possible after use
• Make sure older children are accompanied every time when they swim or use hot tubs
• Always install self-closing and self-latching gates, fences of at least four feet tall surrounding all sides of any pool, and locks to prevent children from gaining access to home pools or pools of water
• Install secure fencing around garden ponds (at least four feet high) to act as a barrier or add mesh or a grill on top of the pond (strong enough to support a child’s weight without dropping below the surface of the pond water)
• Always turn hosepipes off at the tap, so children cannot fill vessels themselves

Indoors

• Always supervise bath time (never leave children unattended) 
• Empty the bath as soon as possible after use
• Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning
• Keep doors to bathrooms and utility rooms closed
• Vulnerable adults and people who suffer from sudden seizures should consider using showers rather than baths

In residential swimming pools 

• Children and weak swimmers should always be closely supervised by an adult
• Weak swimmers should stay within the pool’s recommended safety depths
• Never swim alone
• Take time to check the depth, water flow and layout of pools
• Control access to the pool by using suitable fencing, secure doors and gates, and pool or gate alarms, to monitor access to swimming pools where possible
• Never supervise children or enter the water yourself after drinking alcohol
• Have easy access to suitable rescue aids such as a torpedo buoy, rope or reach pole (all available from RLSS Direct)
• Know what to do in an emergency: learn first aid and CPR (Cardiopulmonary resuscitation), take the Lifesaver • Lifechanger Toolkit
• Always follow pool manufacturers advice for maintenance and safety checks