Outdoor Safety: Pool
So safety tips for us parents when taking our kids to the pool this summer. First, if able to get your kids swim lessons, this is a fantastic idea. You can do this as young as one years old. When we're at the pool, be careful not to get distracted. It's really easy to pick up that good book or be kind of distracted on our cell phones. When we're in the pool with our kids, especially with the weaker swimmers, be within arms width from them. If able, have those weaker swimmers wear a life vest. And last but not least is apply and reapply sunscreen.
The generally acceptable age to allow our infants into a chlorine pool is around six months old. We have to remember, our kids' skin is very sensitive and that chlorine can be very drying. It's important that when you get out, to wash them with soap and water and apply a good amount of moisturizer to their skin.
Back to float is a skill an infant can learn that allows them to get to the surface of the water, roll to their back and maintain their face above the water level. This is generally recommended for the ages of one and over, though some can learn this as young as six months old.
Many of us grew up being told that we had to wait 30 to 60 minutes after eating before we can get in the pool. There is actually no scientific basis for this. Here is some truth though. It can give us some muscle cramping, some stomach cramping and probably more importantly, if you happen to vomit in the pool, you shut down the pool.
