Summer time is fun. It is the time when you can take your little champ for a swimming lesson. Generally kids love swimming. Once they overcome the initial fear, they start to enjoy. In fact once your little one starts enjoying in the pool then it is hard to pull him/her out of the water. If you have a home pool then there is nothing like it. Community swimming pools or swimming clubs are also much fun.

But there are certain things you must be aware of. Starting from the fear of downing in a very deep pool, there are several other swimming pool hazards which can affect your child in a severe manner. Beginning with the risk of drowning, which is persistent for any child below 2 years of age, there are other risks which your child is exposed to whilst he/she is taking a swim or a bath in a pool. Remember that your child can be at risk even if he/she has learnt how to swim and for that reason these are the few basic things you must consider.

7 Must Know Swimming Pool Hazards for Kids

Risk of Drowning

This if one of the major risk and hazard in the swimming pools. It is also the most fatal one. Remember that your child can even drown in 2 inches or 6 centimeter of water. So make sure that your child is never swimming without supervision. Only provide floatation devices which are advised by the swimming instructor.

Drowning can happen in home pools also. So never allow your child to swim alone. If your child is not yet 5 years old then make sure he/she wears a vest which has a strap between the legs and the head support. This protection will make sure that your child’s head is always above water and he/she won’t down.

Dehydration

Hanging around in pools is definitely a favorite pass time for your child. However, if he/she is hanging around for long then there are certain things you should keep in mind. Swimming is a very stressful activity and it can cause dehydration.

However, as your child’s body remains cool, whilst swimming or playing in the pool, they tend to forget about their inner thirst. This causes even more severe dehydration. Always remind your child to drink. Make sure that he/she drinks plenty of water or fluids, before going to swim and also after getting up from there. If your kid is between 9 to 12 years of age then he/she should drink 3-8 ounces of fluid for 20 minutes of swim. An adolescent kid must drink around 32-48 ounce.

Sprains Due to Dives

Your child’s swimming instructor must have told him/her not to dive head fast at the shallow end of the pool, but diving itself sometimes takes its toll on your little one. There are chances that your kid can twist his/her ankles, hurt the knees, elbows and wrists, especially if the water level is lowered.

So inquire about the depth of the water in your local pool. Also make sure that the swimming pool your child visits has care units and emergency services nearby.

Slips and Falls on the Perimeter

Like the risks of injuries inside the pool the surrounding area also poses certain risks to children. They might fall on their feet and also hurt or crack their head. Slippery surrounding areas are very dangerous especially if kids are swimming in the pool.

Make sure that the surrounding of the swimming pool, you choose for your child, has enough filtration system which would allow the standing water to re-filter back to the pool. Do not allow your child to swim in a pool where there are no filtration systems in the surrounding.

Risk of Skin Irritation

Too much chlorine in swimming pool can cause serious skin allergies in your child. Chlorine itself is a great irritant. But also at the same time but contamination with sweat, saliva, hair or sometime urine can cause the formation of bacteria, which is very harmful for your child. It can cause severe skin rashes and irritation to your child.

Consult your doctor about the kind of moisturizer you can use.  Moisturize your child well, before he/she gets in the water. Teach them to take a shower, both before and after the swim session.

Chances of Asthma

The chlorine level present in the water triggers the chances of asthma in children. It greatly affects the breathing capacity. Prolonged exposure to such jarring environment can cause permanent damage to your child’s little lungs. It can even cause asthma.

You need to make sure that the pool is regularly cleaned. Also make sure that not too much chlorine is being poured in the water. If you can smell the chlorine that means that the amount of chlorine in the water is way above the required level. Make sure that your child is not swimming in such a pool.

Causes Irritation in the Eyes

Even your child’s eyes are not safe from the amount of chlorine present in the swimming pool. Prolonged swimming sessions makes your child’s little eyes itchy and reddish. This is indeed not a good sign.

To avoid such incidents please make your child wear swimming goggles and different eye gears. Consuming the water also can trigger stomach infection. So make him/her wear swimming masks too.

Precautions:

There are some general rules which you must follow to avoid any sort of eye related hazards.

• Check the amount of chlorine in water. If you can smell the chlorine from outside the water, the level is way too much.
• The swimming pools must have good ventilation. The surrounding of the pool must remain dry to avoid accidents.
• Tell your kid to take shower before and after the swimming session.
• Make sure that the pool is regularly cleaned.
• Teach your child not to spit or pee in the swimming pool.
• Moisturize your child.
• Make him/her drink adequate amount of fluid.
• Make him/her use the appropriate swimming gears.

These steps are the basics which, as a parent, you must convey to your child to make sure that he/she has a safe and healthy swimming sessions.