City police issue tips for pool safety

Summer fully arrived last week and police noted that many people will be jumping in pools to cool off over the next few months.

Sergeant Douglas Pflug said the Guelph Police Service is reminding pool users of several safety tips:

- never leave a child unsupervised near a pool;

- encourage feet first entries;

- no one should ever dive into an above ground pool;

- alcohol and pools don’t mix;

- do not consider young children “drown proof” because they have had swimming lessons and noted young children should always be watched carefully while swimming;

- do not use flotation devices as a substitute for supervision;

- never use a pool with its pool cover partially in place, since children may become entrapped under it. Remove the cover completely;

- keep toys away from the pool area because a young child playing with the toys could accidentally fall in the water;

- have a telephone poolside to avoid having to leave children unattended in or near the pool to answer a telephone elsewhere;

- keep emergency numbers at the poolside telephone;

- learn cardiopulmonary resuscitation;

- keep rescue equipment by the pool; and

- participation in water safety and swimming instruction is beneficial.

For more information visit the Canadian Red Cross at http://bit.ly/LlHcoS.