Even though the summer is on its way to a close, it remains just as important to keep up proper water safety efforts as it was at the very beginning of the season and at its hottest points.
According to the coordinator for the Safe Kids of Douglas County, Meaghan Tilton, the second most common cause of death among children between the ages of 1 and 4 is drowning. She explained that “We’re focusing on pool safety because that’s where younger children are most likely to drown.”
The program is encouraging the education of children in order to make sure that they know as much as possible about water safety. They are also encouraging parents to take swimming lessons with their kids, as Tilton stated that kids from families that don’t swim have a likelihood of drowning that is eight times higher than that of children from families that swim.
The Safe Kids program is also encouraging the owners of pools to make some efforts to make sure that their own pools are as safe as possible. One of these efforts includes the replacement of the older style of drain cover that is flat, using a rounded cover instead, so that a child is less likely to become caught up in the pool’s vacuum. This is already the law for public pools in Douglas County.
Pool owners should also make sure that they advise their insurance agent that their property has a pool, as additional coverage may be required. They should make certain that their personal liability limit is adequately high. Also, pool owners should speak with their agents about whether or not it is a good idea to purchase umbrella insurance, as well.