Swimming pools have changed over the decades. Safety equipment has improved, alarms have become more sophisticated, and parents now have access to far more information about water safety than previous generations did. Yet some of the most important lessons about drowning prevention have barely changed. After more than 50 years of teaching swim safety in...Read More

Living in Florida means families can enjoy the water almost year-round. Backyard pools, community pools, vacation properties, resorts, and neighborhood clubhouses are part of everyday life for many children. That access is one of the wonderful things about living in the Sunshine State. It also means Florida pool safety cannot be treated as something families...Read More

Most families with a backyard pool spend time thinking about prevention. Gates are locked, children are reminded about pool rules, and adults know they should be watching whenever swimming begins. There is another question worth asking: if something did go wrong, would every adult know what to do? A strong family pool emergency plan should...Read More

“Can you watch your little brother for a minute?” It is a completely normal request in many families. An older sibling might happily keep an eye on a younger child while a parent grabs something from another room, answers the door, or finishes another task. Around a swimming pool, however, that responsibility should stay with...Read More

Installing a pool alarm can feel like an important step toward making your backyard safer. If someone opens a door, passes through a gate, or enters the water unexpectedly, an alarm may provide an extra warning that something is wrong. That warning can be valuable. However, pool alarms should never become the entire drowning-prevention plan....Read More