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During the hot summer months, pool parties are bound to happen. After all, it’s the best way to cool down. And let’s not forget that pool parties are one of the easiest parties to give. Invite a few families over, slap some meat on the barbecue, place some sodas on ice, poor a few chips in a bowl, and there you have it: instant party.
While parents are off mingling with other parents, children are left alone in the water. Feeling it to be a safe environment, the parents are more relaxed and easy going. But the fact of the matter is that more and more children drown during pool parties.
So how can one have a pool party and prevent drownings? The most surefire way to handle this is to hire a professional lifeguard, who’s sole purpose is to watch the children. If no lifeguard is available, one can always hire two teenagers to do the job, one at each end of the pool.
Another idea would be to have a lifeguard station set up towards the deep end of the pool, and have parents sign up in half hour intervals to act as lifeguard. If the acting lifeguard has to get up or leave for any reason, the next person on the list will take the spot. If the acting lifeguard wants something to eat or drink, all he has to do is ring a bell and someone from the crowd will attend to him.
Here are some other great tips:
1. By keeping the number of people invited to a pool party under 20, the lifeguard will be able to keep a closer eye everyone.
2. Do not invite children under five to a party for teenagers unless the parents agree to keep a life jacket on the child at all times.
3. Don’t assume that the child’s parent will watch the child.
4. When children are jumping off a diving board, set some ground rules. Such as, only one person diving at a time, wait in line, do not jump until the last diver has gotten out of the water, and do not jump towards the side of the pool.
5. Before anyone is allowed in the water, gather everyone around the pool and lay down the ground rules.
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