Playing It Safe by the Pool

Pool rules still rule. Or at least they should when it comes to kids’ safety. But let’s be honest. Often, we ignore the pool-side sign listing all the do’s and don’ts. (Do you always shower before going swimming?)

But if you’re a kid, some of the rules could save your life. Especially this one: Kids should never swim unless a lifeguard or other responsible adult is around.

Lorraine Kishimoto, head lifeguard at the Calabasas Tennis and Swim Center, points out that lots of private pools don’t have lifeguards. If you live in an apartment or a gated neighborhood, you may have an unguarded community pool. Maybe you and your friends have been tempted to jump in on a hot summer day. After all, you know how to swim, so what’s the problem?

For starters, predicting what will happen in a pool is difficult. If a kid suddenly needs help, Kishimoto explains, another child probably would not be able to save him or her.

A second important pool rule (you may know this already, but may not heed it): Don’t dive into shallow water. At a public pool, it’s easy to tell where the deep end is because numbers are painted on the side. But if you’re at a friend’s pool, you can’t always tell. Dr. Byron Patterson, director of the pediatric sports medicine division at UCLA, says if you dive into shallow water, you could hit the bottom, causing a serious neck or head injury. If you’re not sure that it’s safe to dive, ask the adult in charge.

Another rule we sometimes forget is the one about no running. It’s fun to run and jump into the pool, and to sometimes try to land on inflatable floats in the water. But running poolside is dangerous--you could slip. Most pools are surrounded by hard concrete or tile. Falling on this surface could mean bruises or even broken bones or teeth. And a flying leap onto an object in the water can be risky because you might crash-land and get hurt.

At the Iris Ryker Swim School in Chatsworth, lifeguard Kevin Blum says, “No jumping in unless your toes are over the edge.” In other words, you stand still at the edge of the pool before taking off. This also gives you a moment to make sure you’re not going to land on anyone.

Remember the rule about not swimming right after eating because you might get cramps? Unless you’re a competitive swimmer, it’s not a problem, Patterson says.

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Kids and other readers can e-mail Emily Dwass at emilydwass@yahoo.com