Doctor on how parents can implement pool safety for kids this summer

PROTECTING YOUR KIDS AT THE POOL. IT COULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU DO THIS SUMMER. HERE TO EXPLAIN DOCTOR ALI RAJA, THE EXECUTIVE VICE CHAIR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT MASS GENERAL HOSPITAL. THANKS FOR JOINING US, DOCTOR RAJA. THANKS, ERIKA. ALL RIGHT. DOCTOR RAJA, AS YOU KNOW, MASSACHUSETTS HAS A LOT OF RULES FOR BACKYARD POOL OWNERS MUST INSTALL A WALL OR A FENCE AROUND IT THAT IT’S AT LEAST FOUR FEET HIGH. THE LATCH FOR THE ENTRY GATE HAS TO BE A LITTLE HIGHER. 4.5FT. DO YOU AGREE THAT THOSE RULES SAVE LIVES? I DO. BEN AND WE’RE IN THE MIDDLE OF INSTALLING A POOL RIGHT NOW, SO TRYING TO MEET ALL OF THOSE RULES. SO THE TOWN INSPECTOR SAYS WE CAN ACTUALLY SWIM IN IT, BUT THE RULES REALLY ARE DESIGNED TO SLOW KIDS DOWN JUST LONG ENOUGH FOR AN ADULT TO NOTICE WHAT’S GOING ON. AND SO A LATCHED FENCE MAKES IT A LOT HARDER FOR TODDLERS TO WANDER IN. BUT I’VE GOT TO TELL YOU, ON TOP OF THE FENCE, I TELL FAMILIES TO THINK ABOUT DOOR ALARMS, POOL MOTION SENSORS, EVEN SECURITY CAMERAS. IF THEY’VE GOT REALLY YOUNG KIDS. THOSE FEW EXTRA SECONDS, THEY CAN REALLY SAVE A LIFE. YES. SO WE’RE TALKING ABOUT THE LITTLE ONES. OF COURSE, OLDER KIDS CAN STILL GET IN AND OUT OF THOSE GATES. CAN THAT CREATE OTHER PROBLEMS FOR PARENTS? IT DEFINITELY CAN. ERIKA YOU KNOW, THE FACT IS, NO ONE KIDS, OLDER KIDS, ADULTS SHOULD EVER REALLY BE SWIMMING. SWIMMING ALONE, EVEN IF THEY’RE STRONG SWIMMERS. SO ALL SORTS OF THINGS CAN HAPPEN IN THE WATERS. YOU CAN AND YOU CAN SLIP, YOU CAN HAVE HEAD INJURIES, YOU CAN HAVE SUDDEN CRAMPS. AND THE CDC HAS SHOWN THAT INJURIES IN AND AROUND POOLS ARE NOT ACTUALLY USUALLY TODDLERS. THEY’RE ALSO 5 TO 15 YEAR OLD KIDS. SO HAVING A BUDDY IN THE POOL, SOMEONE ON DECK WHO KNOWS CPR OR BASIC FIRST AID, THAT’S JUST AS IMPORTANT AS FENCING. ALL RIGHT, SO WHAT ABOUT POOL PARTIES? WHAT KIND OF QUESTIONS SHOULD PARENTS ASK? WHAT AGE IS KIND OF APPROPRIATE OR SWIMMING ABILITY? ARE YOU COMFORTABLE LETTING YOUR KIDS GO TO ONE? WELL, I’VE BEEN LOOKING INTO THIS A LOT. NOW THAT I’VE GOT TWO KIDS WHO LIKE TO GO TO POOL PARTIES A LOT, AND IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO ASK A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS. NUMBER ONE, I HAVE TO ASK MY MY BOYS OR YOUR KIDS WHETHER OR NOT THEY’RE CONFIDENT SWIMMERS. THAT’S ONE THING. AND THEN NUMBER TWO, YOU REALLY HAVE TO LOOK INTO THE SUPERVISION. SO IT’S ALWAYS IMPORTANT TO ASK HOW MANY ADULTS ARE GOING TO BE WATCHING AND ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN SORT OF EYES IN THE POOL MODE, OR ARE THEY GOING TO BE IN GRILLING AND CHATTING MODE? SO I DISCOVERED THERE’S THIS THING CALLED DESIGNATED WATCHER PROGRAMS, WHERE ONE ADULT IS 100% RESPONSIBLE FOR SCANNING THE POOL EVERY 15 OR 20 MINUTES AT A TIME. AND THOSE REALLY WORK. THERE’S GOOD DATA THAT THOSE HELP PREVENT POOL INJURIES. SO IT’S ALL ABOUT FOCUS AND MAKING SURE THAT SOMEONE’S ALWAYS GOT THEIR EYES ON THE WATER OR HIRE A CERTIFIED LIFEGUARD. YEAH, NEED THAT SUPERVISION OKAY

Mass Gen’s Dr. Ali Raja says parents should have some sort of latched fence or even a door alarm and security camera to help prevent any accidents near a backyard pool.

NEEDHAM, Mass. —

Mass Gen’s Dr. Ali Raja says parents should have some sort of latched fence or even a door alarm and security camera to help prevent any accidents near a backyard pool.

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