Swimming Pool Chemicals
Each year a child in Montreal is either rescued from a swimming pool near death experience or has actually died despite the Québec’s Ministère des Affaires recommendations for municipalities to adapt backyard pool safety regulations.
Swimming pool safety tips
Even though there are regulations in place accidents still happen. Make sure there are high fences enclosing your outdoor pool.
One of the biggest problems is the required gated in ground pools are in place; however, the gate is left open and the young child crawls through.
Furthermore, covers must be firmly attached over the pool when not in use. Small children can find a way to get under it or may walk over it and fall in.
Even with the gate closed, parents should be vigilant and not take their eyes off their young children. Children are resourceful and will find a way to crawl through holes in fences onto the neighbour’s property and risk drowning in someone’s pool.
The Montreal Coroner suggests that Children of all ages should learn how to swim as early as possible. Montreal children can get courses at local community centers and the YM/YWCA; shop around for a program in your area.
One should not assume that older children are out of harm’s way just because they have learned how to swim. A child should be supervised by an adult at all times. Children can get a cramp in the pool water the same way as they would in a lake, However, whether or not children are using a backyard or community center pool, they can have an accident jumping off the diving board and hitting their heads against the side of the pool or cement surroundings.
Have your girls wear a bathing cap. A few years back a 14 year old Montreal girl died in her aunt’s pool when her hair got caught in the drain and dragged her under.
There have been cases of small children injured in a bathtub when their hair was caught in the drain as well.
Between 1990 – 2004 at least 89 Americans from 18 months to 89 years of age were injured or died in swimming pools, wading pools, hot tubs, spas, and bathtubs when a body part or hair was caught in a drain, thirteen of these accidents resulted in deaths.
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