Home Pool Safety

Half of swimming-pool drownings occur at home or apartment pools. Here are a few tips on how to keep your family safe.

Enclose your pool with a fence, wall or other barrier at least 4 feet tall. Install self-latching gates that open outward.

Enroll your children into Survival Swimming Lessons from a qualified instructor - Tiny Bubbles is a Qualified Survival Swimming Facility with Qualified Instructors.

Don't assume your child can swim, No matter how well skilled no one (adult or child) is ever Drown Proof. Many youngsters may have taken swimming lessons, but have NEVER taken Survival Swimming Lessons, therefore they were not taught the required Survival Skills needed if they find themselves in a panic situation.

Keep a portable phone in the pool area and program emergency speed dials on its speed dial.

Keep a close eye on children and non-swimmers who are using inflatable toys, inner tubes and mattresses. They could slide off them and drown.

Closely supervise children when they're diving or jumping in the pool. Head and back injuries are likely to occur during these activities.

Keep the pool's deck area clear of tripping hazards, such as toys, dishes, hoses etc.

Review safety measures and rules with guests before they swim.

Boating Safety

Check weather and water conditions before leaving shore.

Don't drink and boat. Alcohol is a factor in many boating accidents. Choose a designated boat driver who will not drink.

Insist that everyone wear a Coast Guard-approved personal flotation device or life jacket while on board (even if they can swim).

Always tell someone where you'll be boating, when you expect to be back and what your boat looks like.

Keep Coast Guard-approved visual distress devices, such as pyrotechnic red flares, orange distress flags or lights on board.

Don't carry more passengers than the maximum listed on the boat's capacity plate.

Follow the "one-third rule" of fuel management: Use one-third of your fuel to get where you want to go and one-third to return. The other one-third is your reserve.

Safety MUSTS for Children

Never leave a young child alone in a bathtub, wading pool, swimming pool, lake or river. If you must answer the phone or get a towel, take the child with you.

Be aware of backyard pools, lakes, ponds and rivers in your neighborhood or apartment building; your child could wander off and fall in.

Enroll children older than 6 months old in Survival Swimming Lessons taught by qualified instructors. Tiny Bubbles is a Qualified Survival Swimming Facility with Qualified Instructors and is a USSSA approved Swim School. But remember, swimming lessons (anywhere) will NOT make children "Drown-Proof".

Teach your older children that they risk drowning when they overestimate their swimming ability or underestimate water depth.

Safety MUSTS for Adults

Take swimming lessons from a qualified instructor if you're not a strong, competent swimmer. At this time, Tiny Bubbles does not teach adult swimming lessons, but give us a call, we will gladly set you up with someone that does teach adult lessons.

Don't swim if you've been drinking alcohol.

Don't swim alone or allow others to do so.

Stay out of the water during thunderstorms and other severe weather. During lightning storms, seek shelter away from metal objects, open areas and large, lone trees.

Don't exceed your swimming ability. Know your limits and stick to them.

Check the water level before diving into a pool, ocean, pond, reservoir or lake. Always dive with your arms extended firmly over your head and your hands together.

Don't dive into unknown bodies of water, such as lakes, rivers, quarries or irrigation ditches. Jump feet first to avoid hitting your head (and breaking your neck or back) on a shallow bottom, hidden rock or other obstruction.