Another drowning. Are you keeping your kids safe?

Question

I don't want to hear of another child drowning this summer! If you can't install a fence, why not close the door to the pool or make sure that every two minutes you actually look at the child? We can do it!

And by the way, I heard on Wendy Williams radio show that houses with pools are becoming less attractive for this reason. They're are just too dangerous.

Answer 1

No one does. I believe in the state I live in, it's required. My parents have an inground pool with a fence. But it's not foolproof. If kids wanted to get in then they would. It's better if it were mandatory that all kids were taught how to swim. All parents should teach their kids to not go in other people's pools without their permission. Kids should have this drilled into their heads as soon as possible.

But you always have the stupid kid, unfortunately. So the best defense is swimming lessons or not to let the stupid kid alone.  I don't mean it that harshly. I'm not completely serious. Kids are not adults. They don't always think things through so you have to repeat a lot what you say and remind them. They will get the message. They will hear that message over and over if faced with the opportunity.

edit: Toddlers drowning?  That's neglect and abuse. You never let a child wander away. Never. Those parents are irresponsible and incompetent. No excuse. There are things that can be done to protect children. People are ridiculous these days if they aren't thinking about what can be done.

Answer 2

I agree that parents should  be VERY diligent  in making sure their child is safe.  If you have a pool you absouletly SHOULD have a fence...no exceptions.  Even if you KNOW your own child will not ever get to your pool, how can you be sure the kid down the street won't?  ALWYAS have a fence. In fact, it's a law where I live.

Having said that, let me tell some of you self rightous. perfect parents  a story about how an accident CAN happen, even to good parents.

I have a friend. She is truly the BEST mom I have ever seen. I look up to her (even tough she's a few years younger than me) in a lot of ways. She would never purposfully make an unwise decision that would allow her child to be harmed. However, three years ago, her third child drowned right outside her front yard in the VERY small pond that is on their neighbors property...not 30 feet from the front door, while her, her husbnad and two older siblings were all in the house. Did this mom just fail to use good parenting sense? Nope. It was the first time the baby (19 months old) had ever crawled out of her crib. Mom and Dad knew she was in bed. They had the baby monitor on and were waiting on her to wake from her usual naptime. Well, she awoke and climbed out of her bed and got out the door and drowned before anyone ever knew she was gone.

Could this have been avoided? Well sure. If mom and or dad would have sat in her bedroom and watched her sleep, they would have surely seen her get up. But they 'took their eyes away' just like we all do at some point.

Sometimes,accidents happen even in spite of the parents doing all they can to protect their children.  It doesn't mean your a bad parent just because an accident happens. But we do need to do everything we can think of to prevent accidents.  Anything less than that  IS bad parenting.

Answer 3

When I was a baby, I fell off of a dock and into the lake... one of my uncles heard the splash and dove in and saved me... he said I was on the bottom looking up at the surface...

Children seem to be drawn to the water... they are always seeking to explore. Treat the barriers around your pool like they need to be prepared for an enemy assault of toddlers.

Answer 4

HI my boys are safe.  They've been swimming since they were 3 yrs old.  We have a pool in our yard and a fence around the perimeter of the yard so no one can just help theirselves to swimming in our pool or getting hurt in it or dying it!  Pools make me nervous since I can't swim that's why it was important my children learn to swim now my 12 yr old is in pre-life guarding.

Answer 5

I so hear you ! Not only pools even at the beach . Parents are so busy in other peoples faces that they don't even pay attention to their children . I saved a two year old little girl from drowning and I don't even know how long she was drowning before I saw her and got her and you know I didn't even get a Thank You from her mother . Parents please keep our kids safe and keep a close eye on our young children and if you are not swimming with any children help the parents who are , keep a better eye on them .

Answer 6

Yes, I feel I keep my kids safe.  It is for this reason that I don't let my step daughter care for my 2 year old. I trust that she'll take care of him adequately, however, she has a pool and hasn't take the precautions I believe are necessary to keep him from going to the pool by himself.  That, and she has guns not locked up.  I'm looked at hateful by my stepkids and my in-laws because they think I'm being an a$$ and just don't want my kids having anything to due with their half-siblings.  Oh, well.  I'd rather have my child alive and well and be the evil stepmother than having my child either shoot himself playing with a gun or drowing in her pool.

Answer 7

I heard that too about houses are harder to sell with pools. I watch my son like a hawk when we are around a pool. Accidents happen but man they can be prevented

Answer 8

I agree! Fences and gates are a MUST when kids are around. A few years ago, there was a drowning around here. The 2 year old actually went across the road and got into the neighbors pond and drowned. Parents need to keep a closer eye on their kids. Simple as that!

Answer 9

The pool in our backyard does have a fence around it, it is an above ground with a wooden deck built around it and it has a gate with a lock that unlatches from the inside and one of those alarms the second answerer was talking about and when the kids are outside I am outside too.

I am doing my best ma'am, lol.

Answer 10

My parents house just got less attractive to me.  They are having an in-ground pool built and it's almost finished.  I have a 3 year old and a 4 month old.  In addition to my boys, my parents also have grandchildren, ages 6, 4, and 2 months.  We are a very close family and my brothers and I visit my parents at least once a week.  If my hubby and I ever have date night, my parents watch the boys.  But, that's all about to change.  They have a fence around the back yard but no safety fence, no pool cover, no alarm on the back door.  No one will watch your child the way a parent will (and even some parents need work on that).  Therefore, as much as I love and trust my parents, I refuse to leave my children there, without me being there.  It's time to start looking for a new babysitter... someone without a pool.

Answer 11

I have a pool and we do have to be very careful, even with a fence.  We installed keyed deadbolts (not just the kind you turn- because the kids are able to open them).

Answer 12

thank u

Answer 13

We don't have an inground pool, but we do have an above ground pool. We keep the door to the patio locked with a chain lock above the regular lock. That way the kids need an adult to get out to the pool. Also our pool has a fence around it which, on the gate has a child lock, so the kids can't open it themselves.

Answer 14

You should be able to have a pool and kids.  Just take every safety measure... pool alarm, fence, etc.  You shouldn't have to be obsessive about it, just safe.

Answer 15

Tell me about it, I went to a pool party the other day and went with my 3 year old into the shallow end of pool (she is very well trained about pool safety and I was watching her like a hawk, never letting her out of arm's reach). Two other idiot parents (one about 5 minutes after the other) just striped their toddlers down and let them run right over to the pool without even a single warning, and guess what, the kids just jumped right off the deep end! Several other mothers ended up diving in with their camcorders and cellphones in their pockets to rescue the drowning kids.

Afterwards, the the parents had the odasity to BLAME the lady who owned the pool and was hosting the party and asked her to pay for their ruined cell phones (mind you, the pool was completely closed inside a separate building and the kids had to change clothes before they went in so the parents should have been by their side every step of the way with camcorders and cell phones OUT of their pockets should they have to get in the water and fast)!!!  What on earth are these people thinking?  DUH! It seems a lot of parents are completely clueless about their kids and pool safety. It is no wonder there are so many accidents.

Answer 16

good information.

if anyone dos have small children in the house.

there is this little alarm you can instal in the pool and turn it off whenever you like.   but incase the child dos get near the pool and touches the water it sets off an alarm.. i bought this because i was scared of my son ending up in it

Answer 17

Pools are not dangerous.  Parents not watching their children and not taking the right precautions is the danger.

Answer 18

We have a pool and the kids love it, it may be something the next buyer wouldn't want but we did.  We have alarms on all the doors going outside, if they open it goes off so if the kids go out then I know it.  We have a fence around the pool and you can only get into that area of the yard going through our dining room so we do not have to worry about neighborhood kids getting into it.  All of my kids are great swimmers but I know first hand accidents can happen so if they are outside in the pool I grab a book and go sit in the lounge chair.

As a pool owner another thing people need to be cautioned about is the covers.  Just because a pool is covered does not mean it is safe, it can actually cause more harm if a child crawls on to the cover causes it to collapse and then the child is wrapped up in it and can not get out.  Slides are another factor.  Although they are a lot of fun a child can hit their head on it as they go into the water and cause injury.

Also when the swimming is over it is best to put all toys away, this distracts a little one from chasing the ball left on the deck and ending up in the pool.  Pools are great fun and allow for a lot of family fun BUT they are a big responsibility and if you can't be responsible them don't have one.  That responsibility also includes all the adults knowing how to swim and do CPR in case an accident ever did occur.

Answer 19

There been one death already from drowning and one made it my brother saying and grandpa started cpr fast. But the brother must put the steps in the pool because they had it out so they couldn't climb in. If I had a pool I would have a fence around it with a lock. But I don't have a pool and probably won't buy one till the kids are the age till they swim. Right now I take them to public pool where are alot of lifeguards.

Answer 20

i think is a good idea

totally with you!

Answer 21

I agree with you. You should always take reasonable precautions if you own a pool. But, at the same time I feel like the parents of the child should take some responsibility as well.

Growing up we had a pool and my parents installed a fence (5-6 feet high) around our yard. We never had any problems with the pool even as young children because our parents taught us how to swim at a young age. And of course we knew that we weren't allowed to be around the pool unless one of our parents were present.

When I was a teenager some new neighbors moved in with 2 young boys (5-7 years old). When we weren't home, those boys would climb the fence and play around our pool.

We told the parents on numerous occasions that their boys were sneaking over and they did nothing. We complained to the police and it was basically our word against their's. My parents were so afraid that something would happen and they would be held responsible for it.

We had the fence up (and it wasn't a short one) so, we felt like that should have been enough to keep people out. It was private property.

Then one day in winter, we came home to kid footprints on the ice over our pool! That was enough for my parents and they tore down the whole pool.

I thought it was ridiculous that as a home owner you couldn't even have a pool on your own property because the neighbors wouldn't take of their own children. Parents certainly have to take responsibility for their children as well.

Answer 22

definatly do ot wanna hear of another drowning either, thats terrible!

if you have a pool it ought to be a law u have to have a child safe gate and fence on it.

i myself almost drowned when i was abt 9 or 10, we went to the lake for a lil family get together and my mom kept telling me not to go any farther out and everyoe was over there lookig at something i cant remember, butneedless to say i went to look too and fell in a hole underwater!! it was like a foot over my head! omg it was the scariest thing i have ever been through in my life, thakfully some body grabbed me up!  and to this day i am still scared to go into water where it is above my neck and i can swim pretty good!

my 4 yr old son alwasy has a life jacket on when were at lake or fishing or wherever there is water, it was the best 20 bucks we ever spent, and we dont have a pool but if we did i would definitly have a lock on the gate, not just to protect my son, but my neighbors kids too!

Answer 23

I agree what the h**l is wrong with parents who dont watch thier child or a least know where thet are at ALL times!!! It just makes me so mad espesially becuase of the little ones man! These deaths could be prevented!