Is Your Pet Safe at the Pool This Summer?

Is Your Pet Safe at the Pool This Summer?
In the summer owning a pool can be a great source of fun for the entire family—even for your pets. It also can be a safety challenge if you are not careful.
Pool safety issues for pets and kids are very similar, and they go far beyond just careful supervision. With children and pets, you can never assume that you can watch them all the time. It only takes a minute of distraction for either one to run out the door and into the pool. In fact, one study showed that in the case of children, supervision failed in 69 percent of the drowning incidents.
With that said, pools can be great fun for your pet. Here are just a few of the issues you should consider:

• Although many dogs love the water, don't assume they can swim naturally. Never throw a dog into the pool, he may panic and not be able to climb the slick sides to get out of the pool.
• Even excellent swimmers will gradually lose their ability as they age and become weaker. In addition, senior dogs are more prone to slipping and falling into a pool.
• Heat and sunlight are more intense around the pool. Your dog cannot keep as cool as you, so watch for signs of overheating. Don't let your dog drink from the pool-- the chlorine can make him sick.
• You should also be aware that chlorinated water may irritate your dog's eyes. When the two of you are finished playing in the pool, hose your dog down with fresh water to get the chlorine out.    

When designing safety measures, many people find it helpful to think of "layers of protection" to guard against the unforeseen. For instance, when you are away, what's to stop someone else's child or pet from wandering into your backyard pool? The following are a few tips that can avert tragedy:

• Install a pool fence or barrier. This is your first and best line of defense. The fence should have a self-closing, self-latching gate.  D&D’s TruClose self-closing hinges combined with the MagnaLatch magnetic latch provide the ultimate safety hinge and latch system for your pool gate.

• Keep doors to the pool securely closed. Many dogs and cats can nose open doors, so make sure there is no gap between the door jam or sliding glass door runner and the door itself.

For your health and the health of your pet, make sure your pool's chemical balance is correct. As any pool owner knows, it takes very little to throw your pool out of balance. Your pet can get sick if he drinks or is exposed to the green algae that inevitably invades your pool now and again.
Be sure to remember these tips and your family and pets will have a fun and safe summer!

Keeping Your Home Safe Outside and In

Keeping Your Home Safe Outside and In

Parents are often concerned, as they should be, with keeping the inside of their house safe and sound for their children and pets.  They’re busy installing protective child gates in the kitchen, living room, basement -- all around the house.  And once those gates are up then they’re adding protective hardware to drawers, cabinets, closets, anywhere they see to protect little ones from danger.  Of course, a parent’s protective field of focus is where most of their time is spent -- inside the house. 

But what about outside the house?

Outside the house is a whole other world where child and pet safety must be seriously considered.  Fences with gates protect children, whether they’re designed to keep toddlers out of swimming pools or to keep them in the yard away from busy traffic.  Fences also help keep pets in your yard, and other animals out.

Thankfully the hardware you can put on your outside gate today is highly advanced in the art of protecting little children and pets from getting into trouble in your yard, or beyond it.  Highly advanced, that is, if you choose the right gate hardware, and when it comes to your loved ones, the right choice is the only choice.

While a gate hinge is a necessity to keeping the gate up, it’s important to understand the need for an adjustable, self-closing gate hinge.  The ground moves constantly from rain, wind, earthquakes, and of course daily opening and closing --all this weighs on the gate’s ability to shut.  Unless you are standing there shutting the gate yourself, you can’t ensure that gate is going to close each time, and you probably can’t be there every time the gardener finishes his work.  Adjusting our gate hinges is quick and simple. TruClose self-closing gate hinges take just a simple twist with a screwdriver and you’re done. 

Increase your peace of mind with a self-latching, magnetic latch like MagnaLatch or LokkLatch and your backyard becomes a greater safety zone for you, your family, and your pets.

Are you risking your pets life?

It’s a common misconception to think that all dogs know how to swim. While dogs drowning in pools rarely make the news, people don’t realize how often this actually happens. It is estimated that over 5,000 family pets drown in backyard pools each year.

While we wouldn’t think to leave our dogs in a hot car, we need to also think we would never leave our dog around an unfenced pool either. Since your dog typically can’t make these decisions not to be left in a hot car or be left around an unfenced pool, the safety actions provided are for you to act upon because chances are your pet(s) can’t read either.

 

Now perhaps you’re saying to yourself “My dog never goes near the pool. He’s afraid of water. He hates baths he definitely doesn’t want to go in the pool.” A dog running by

the pool can slip and fall in. A dog playing with another dog can be pushed in. A dog that never has gone into water just does, and the reason why is never known. So the fact that your pet has yet to drown in the family pool is like rolling the dice. And, maybe your dog will never fall in the pool but as a pet owner you need to be reminded that you are responsible for the care and safety of your pet.

 

Follow the layers of protection:

·       Train your dog to know where your pool steps are and how to find his way out in case he does find himself alone in the pool. Don’t assume your dog knows where they are and due to a dog’s physical build, the ability to find the stairs is their only hope in survival.

·        ALWAYS know where pets and children are. Never leave a child unattended in or near water in a pool, tub, lake, river, canal or ocean, even when lifeguards are present.

·        If a pet or child is missing, always check the pool or spa first.

·       Install “isolation fencing” which completely separates the pool or spa area from the house or other structures. An isolation fence restricts unauthorized access from neighbors’ yards, other nearby buildings, and from inside the house. Isolation fencing is the preferred configuration for pool and spa protection.

·        All fences must be non-climbable, meet all applicable local safety codes, and should be at least 60” tall, with vertical bars set close to one another so that a small pet child cannot squeeze through, consider the Puppy Guard Add On like these offered by American One Fence & Railing.

·       Pool gates should be self-closing and self-latching and accommodate a locking device such as the rust-free MagnaLatch® Top Pull or the MagnaLatch® Vertical Pull (also known as the pet safey latch), along with self-closing hinges like the TruClose®.

·      Gates should open away from the pool and have self-closing hinges, and should never be propped open. Check and adjust your gate regularly to make sure it operates correctly.

·      Keep anything that can be climbed, such as chairs, tables, storage bins, playground equipment, ice chests, etc. inside the fence area.

 

Summer Safety Tips for your Kids (and You)

With summer solstice on the horizon, it seems appropriate to provide a summer safety tip sheet.

 

It’s estimated that every year, one in four kids ages 14 and younger will sustain an injury that requires medical attention. 40% of all injury-related emergency room visits and 42% of all injury deaths happen between May and August. This summer, let’s educate our kids (and ourselves) on safety so we can reduce 90% of these accidents.

Sunburn

Regardless of age and skin type, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends that everyone, adults and kids alike, apply a water-resistant sunscreen that protects against both UVA and UVB rays every day of the year (even in winter and on cloudy days). Choose a sunscreen that is at least SPF 30 and apply it 15 to 30 minutes before going outside. (If you're using both sunscreen and insect repellent, apply sunscreen first and then repellent.)

 

Bites

Repellents don’t kill insects, but they can reduce bites from mosquitoes, ticks and other bothersome bugs. There are two type of repellents, those with DEET and those without. While it’s advised that DEET on kids should be used “sparingly” and should NOT be used on infants, it’s probably safe to say let’s not use repellents with DEETS at all. We are trying to avoid accidents right? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends repellents that contain picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, both are non-toxic and able to reduce mosquito bites just as well as formulas with low levels of DEET.

 

Pool Safety

Never leave kids alone near the pool, no matter what their ages or swim capabilities are. Parents can and should take precautions around home pools, in addition to closely supervising kids while they swim. Installing fencing around pools, at least 5-feet high, all the way around and with a self-closing, self-latching gate, like the MagnaLatch and TruClose adjustable, self-closing gate hinges, can prevent 50 to 90 percent of accidental drowning incidents. For a full list of layers of protection, visit http://www.poolsafely.gov/  

Playground Safety

The CPSC reports over 205,000 kids visit emergency rooms with playground-related injuries each year. Check the playground equipment before letting kids play on it. For example, surfaces that are too hot can cause burns, and loose ropes can cause accidental strangulation. The ground should be covered in a protective surface such as rubber mats, wood or rubber mulch or wood chips, never grass, asphalt or concrete. The right surface materials could reduce the risk of head injury or other severe injury in the event of a fall.

Bike Rides

Over 300,000 kids each year visit the emergency room due to bike-related injuries, some result in death or severe brain injury. Helmets can greatly reduce your child’s risk of that ER visit. The CPSC sets standards for helmets, so look for the seal of approval. Also, as you ride with your child set an example and put a helmet on too.

Overheating & Hydration

Staying hydrated in hot weather can help reduce the risk of heat-related illness. If you’re feeling thirsty, you are already mildly dehydrated. Keep water or sports drinks (with electrolytes) on hand to maintain hydration, and try to stay in a shady or air-conditioned location during the hottest parts of the afternoon. Mild symptoms of heat exhaustion may include feeling thirsty, fatigue and cramps (legs or abdominal). If left untreated, heat exhaustion can progress to heatstroke.

For the sake of our child’s safety let’s be reminded that kids need us to teach them, guide them and protect them.

 

 

 

Don't leave Safety at home this vacation

School’s almost out for the kids and summer vacation plans are in full mode. So whether you’re heading to the beach or to the mountains, plan your family vacation time with safety in mind as diligently as you do while home.

Here are some safety tips to help you plan:

The pool
Risk of drowning is ever-present when you’re near water, but you can dramatically reduce that risk by choosing a hotel, motel or vacation property with a fence around the pool and spa. Also, most community pools will not have a lifeguard on duty, so never leave your children unattended. Even if there is a lifeguard on duty, you can't guarantee they are watching your child over the several others in the pool. Vacation or not, you are never on vacation from your children.

Balconies

Make sure that balconies don’t have wide railings that a youngster could fit through and that they’re high enough to prevent children from climbing over and falling. Even if the balcony looks fine in the brochure, remember that not all rooms are necessarily the same so it’s always best to double check.

Windows and doors
Not all hotels and motels are designed for child safety, so check that windows can only open inches and not entirely allowing a child to fall out. Check that door locks are up out of children’s reach and even check that if there’s a connecting door (to another room) make sure it is locked from your side as well. Report any concerns to your hotel management immediately.

Beds
Poor fitting mattresses and safety rails could present a risk of suffocation or injury to small children, so consider a playpen, renting a crib or with our kids we have them bring their sleeping bags. I’d be upset to sleep on the floor of a hotel room; they actually want to do it. Kids.

Tubs and toilets

Not much is different here than at home, but in a smaller space than your home they seem to be even more exciting to children to invade. First thing I do is check the bathroom when I check into my room. I really did have a room once that had the tub filled with about 4 inches of water (let’s remember, it only takes 1 inch for a child to drown). Thankfully, I was not with my children and it was just poor housekeeping, but ‘accidents happen’ is more than just a saying. It’s hard to keep kids out of the bathroom, so I close the door and truly barricade it with stuff that will create enough noise that alerts me that they are on the move.

Baby monitor
You use them at home, and they’re small enough to pack, so make sure to pack one. It’s worth choosing one with a long range as you may be a bit further away than you’d normally be at home if you’re sitting out on the balcony or terrace. A monitor placed next to your child’s sleeping area will alert you if they stop breathing, start crying or if there’s an intruder. You can even get video monitors for added peace of mind.

Making sure your children are safe when you’re staying in a place you don’t know is just a matter of awareness and planning. You can’t wrap them in bubble wrap, but you can do some upfront checking on the important stuff in advance and take sensible precautions while you’re away. There’s no reason why you can’t relax and enjoy your vacation also.

May is Drowning Prevention Awareness month

Let's be thankful there is an entire month dedicated to drowning prevention awareness. Unfortunately when drowning is the second-leading cause of death to children ages 1-5 in the United States, a month of awareness just doesn't feel like enough.

We need to better understand how we can prevent drowning - don't stop reading if you don't have children and think this doesn't pertain to you. Drowning affects everyone. You, your family, your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers, etc.

While children can drown any time of year, in any place there's a water structure, let's take the next 31 days to make a difference the whole year, and perhaps a lifetime.

Even if you don't have a pool, or a child your voice can make a difference simply by telling someone about simple steps that will help to save lives. The backyard barbecue with children running around, the friend next door with the doggie door big enough for a child to crawl out of, the babysitter that left the room to take a call or return a text.

It only takes a moment for a child to drown, and a moment you will replay in your mind the rest of your life. Let's put an end to this. Together. Join with us and take the Simple Steps Save Lives pledge, to share with someone, anyone, that adding as many proven water safety steps as possible is the best way to assure safety and fun around pools and spas. Take the pledge.

Drowning Prevention Begins with Layers of protection:

• ALWAYS know where children are. Never leave a child unattended in or near water in a pool, tub, lake, river, canal or ocean, even when lifeguards are present.
• ALWAYS be aware of potential dangers in all environments, such as when away from home. Never leave your child in an environment with unprotected water hazards.
•  If a child is missing, always check the pool or spa first.
• Install “isolation fencing” which completely separates the pool or spa area from the house or other structures. An isolation fence restricts unauthorized access from neighbors’ yards, other nearby buildings, and from inside the house. Isolation fencing is the preferred configuration for pool and spa protection.
• All fences must be non-climbable, meet all applicable local safety codes, and should be at least 60” tall, with vertical bars set close to one another so that a small child cannot squeeze through.
• Gates should be self-closing and self-latching and accommodate a locking device such as the rust-free MagnaLatch® Top Pull, along with self-closing hinges like the TruClose®.
• Gates should open away from the pool and have self-closing hinges, and should never be propped open. Check and adjust your gate regularly to make sure it operates correctly.
• The gate latch should be out of the reach of children, at least 54” from the ground. Use a locking latch, and keep it locked when pool is not in use. Store the key out of children’s reached and make sure all adults know where the key is kept.
• Keep anything that can be climbed, such as chairs, tables, storage bins, playground equipment, ice chests, etc. inside the fence area.
• All doors providing direct access from the home to the swimming pool should be equipped with a self-closing, self latching device with a release mechanism placed no lower than 54 inches above the floor.

What happens when the lifeguard gets distracted?

Saturday my children were swimming within 3 feet of each other, and within 5-8 feet of me, it took me a minute to realize my son Jack was under the water struggling to get up. Silently.  Would it surprise you to know we were at their swim lessons?

At the time, there was one lifeguard in the pool with him and about 7 instructors in the pool, including his instructor who had just finished his lesson. While he was so close, and my eyes were on the pool, my daughter was actually the one causing the distraction as she wandered a bit off course and my eyes, the lifeguards and the instructors were glancing at the danger she was putting herself into. Long enough for Jack to lose his footing and thrash. Silently.

This was a great lesson in pool safety that even when you think your child is safe with trained supervisors around them there’s still risk. A parent who lost their child to drowning once told me the safest pool is no pool, however I don’t know if that is reasonable. I don’t want my children to fear the water, but I do want them to be trained to react with skills and knowledge that will keep them safe.

Maybe 5 seconds passed from the moment I saw Jack lose his footing, begin to flail his arms and for me to yell “hey, hey” at the lifeguard by his side, before Jack was scooped up. Quick reaction in my book and I don’t hold resentment to the lifeguard, or anyone else – this is the water. From his lessons Jack was able to maintain his composure and get air while trying to get back on his feet.

We can’t be watching our children every second, but we can’t take things for granted either. If our children are in swim lessons, they don’t know how to swim -- they are there learning. Which means as parents, our eyes need to be on them too, not on our phones and not chatting it up with the other moms. Same goes for the country club, gym, lake, ocean, wherever we take our children this summer. Don’t assume your child is safe because there’s a lifeguard stationed there. They’re human and faced with many distractions in the pool. Just like moms.

Here are some great tips to stay safe in the water, offered by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention.