5 Safety Tips for Billings’ Backyard Swimming Pools

A couple of years agoLast weekend was the first time it was almost hot enough to swim and the kids couldn't wait to fill it up with 3,300 gallons of water, ice-cold from the garden hose. Two days later, the water is still ridiculously cold. Despite my warnings that 70 degrees and cloudy is not warm enough to go swimming in freezing water, they insisted on jumping in yesterday afternoon. They lasted all of 20 minutes before everyone came back in the house, shivering and wrapped in towels.

When I was a kid, my mom had an 80-degree rule. We couldn't go swimming unless it was at least 80 degrees outside. I'm implementing the same rule at my house, mainly because my wife doesn't want to wash a ton of extra beach towels from kids who only swim for twenty minutes.

I can only imagine the nightmare that parents of drowned children experience. WebMD says children between the ages of 1 and 4 are at most risk of drowning in pools, whereas older kids and adults are most likely to drown in natural waters. As we gear up for Memorial Day weekend, now seems like a good time for pool safety reminders.

• Kids can drown in as little as 2 inches of water, according to KidsHealth.org. That means even a tiny little kiddie pool can be dangerous for young toddlers. NEVER leave them unattended. You always hear parents of drowning victims say things like, "I just turned my back for a few minutes" or "I just ran in the house to get my phone" and came back to find a tragedy.
• Your pool should be gated to prevent random neighbor kids from easily accessing the pool.
• Remove the ladder from above-ground pools when not in use. I don't have to worry about my 4-year-old climbing into the pool if there is no way for her to get in.
• Enroll your child in swimming lessons as soon as they are old enough. The American Academy of Pediatrics now says kids should learn how to swim starting at age 1.
• Supervise, supervise, supervise. Accidents can happen even when children know how to swim. Use your own judgment with experienced swimmers and teenagers but younger kids should ALWAYS be supervised.

Get more Swim Safety Tips at HealthyChildren.org

Read More: 

• Think Twice About Installing a Real Pool
• Make Sure Your Backyard is Ready for Summer Family Fun
• ND State Fair Canceled: WIll Montana Fair be Next? 

Enter your number to get our free mobile app