As the weather heats up we can’t wait to finally get the paddling pool out and have a splash about. Here are a few tips from The Royal Lifesaving Society UK to keep you and your family safe around water in your garden.
In the garden
- Never leave your child unattended around water. Children can drown in as little as 2cm of water
- Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted
- Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult
- Securely cover all water storage tanks and drains
- Empty paddling pools, containers, buckets and watering cans, as soon as they have been used
- Always turn paddling pools and containers upside down once empty, so they do not collect water
- Securely cover all hot tubs and home spas as soon as possible after use
- Make sure older children are accompanied every time when they swim or use hot tubs
- Always install self-closing and self-latching gates, fences of at least four feet tall surrounding all sides of any pool, and locks to prevent children from gaining access to home pools or pools of water
- Install secure fencing around garden ponds (at least four feet high) to act as a barrier or add mesh or a grill on top of the pond (strong enough to support a child’s weight without dropping below the surface of the pond water)
- Always turn hosepipes off at the tap, so children cannot fill vessels themselves
