2.2.0.5: Behavior Around a Pool

When children are in or around a pool, caregivers/teachers should teach age-appropriate behavior and safety skills including not pushing each other, holding each other under water, or running at the poolside. Children should be shown the depth of the water at different part of the pool. They should be taught that when going into a body of water, they should go in feet first the first time to check the depth. Children should be instructed what an emergency would be and to only call for help only in a real/genuine emergency. They should be taught to never dive in shallow water.

RATIONALE

Caregivers/teachers should take the opportunities to explain how certain behaviors could injure other children. Also such behavior can distract caregivers/teachers from supervising other children, thereby placing the other children at risk (1).

TYPE OF FACILITY

Center, Early Head Start, Head Start, Large Family Child Care Home, Small Family Child Care Home

REFERENCES

1. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Maternal and Child Health Bureau. 1999. Basic emergency lifesaving skills (BELS): A framework for teaching emergency lifesaving skills to children and adolescents. Newton, MA: Children’s Safety Network, Education Development Center. http://bolivia.hrsa.gov/emsc/Downloads/BELS/BELS.htm.